Employees of the Islamabad Airport section joined a large protest organized by the Peoples Unity of PIA Employees Union against the proposed PIA privatization. The demonstration at Islamabad was one of coordinated peaceful rallies held across Pakistan at Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Quetta and other stations.
Ramzan Laghari, president of Peoples Unity, and Sohail Mukhtar, general secretary, addressed the gathering and rejected the current government’s privatization plan. They argued that the national carrier, with assets valued at Rs 1,200 billion, is being offered at an undervalued Rs 270 billion, which they described as a blatant injustice and a betrayal of national interest.
The union leaders declared that the campaign to stop PIA privatization will continue vigorously and called for guarantees on employee job security before any move toward privatization can proceed. They warned that peaceful protests at airports nationwide will persist until concrete assurances are provided and the privatization attempt is halted.
Speakers said the protests are aimed at protecting the rights of aviation workers and preserving PIA as a public institution. They emphasized that while demonstrations remain peaceful, union members are prepared to escalate measures, including operational actions, if there is no meaningful response from authorities regarding employment protections.
Staff turnout at Islamabad Airport reflected strong opposition among employees, with vocal slogans and solidarity across departments. The Peoples Unity reiterated its commitment to a nationwide movement to prevent what it called exploitation under the guise of privatization and to secure livelihoods for PIA workers.
