Hundreds of Pakistan International Airlines employees gathered for a third consecutive day of protest in Rawalpindi under the banner of the People’s Unity of PIA, opposing the government’s proposed PIA privatization. Staff from all sections of PIA Rawalpindi-Islamabad assembled at the Rawalpindi booking office, staging a sit-in and chanting slogans against the move.
Ramzan Laghari, president of the union, addressed the protesters and vowed an intensified struggle to block what he described as looting under the cover of privatization. He demanded firm assurances for the protection of employees’ jobs and pensions, saying that if privatization is unavoidable the workforce must be guaranteed security of employment.
Sohail Mukhtar, general secretary, warned that operations could be suspended if the rights of thousands of employees and pensioners are not fully secured. Senior vice president Shoaib Yousafzai and vice president Amanullah Jadun also spoke at the dharna, affirming their commitment to sustained resistance until concrete guarantees are provided.
Similar demonstrations against the proposed PIA privatization were reported across the country, with protests held in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Quetta, and a gathering outside Bilawal House in Karachi. Organizers say the campaign will continue until the government meets their demands for employment and pension safeguards.
