PIA Air Hostess and Passengers Caught Smuggling Phones
In Lahore, Pakistan, customs officials at Allama Iqbal International Airport seized mobile phones worth millions of Pakistani Rupees. PIA air hostess Nadia Batool was caught trying to smuggle 30 iPhones valued at over PKR 11.2 million. Passengers Muhammad Arshad and Fariha Amin were also found with phones worth PKR 5.5 million. All three were arrested, and a case was registered against them. PIA suspended the involved crew members, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activities.
PIA Faces Privatization Challenges
As the Pakistani government moves forward with plans to privatize Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), potential buyers have set new conditions. During a Senate Privatisation Committee meeting, chaired by Senator Talal Chaudhry, it was revealed that interested companies demand significant changes, including the dismissal of all employees and acquiring 76% of PIA’s shares. The government is expected to settle outstanding tax liabilities. The bidders have requested an extension to the due diligence deadline, indicating possible delays in the privatization process. The Privatisation Commission has attempted to negotiate terms to protect employees from layoffs for two to three years, but bidders have shown no willingness to retain staff or take on pension liabilities.
Doubts Revealed
PIA -: PIA stands for Pakistan International Airlines. It is the national airline of Pakistan, similar to Air India in India.
Air Hostess -: An air hostess is a person who works on an airplane to help passengers and ensure their safety during the flight. They are also known as flight attendants.
Smuggling -: Smuggling means secretly bringing things into a country without paying taxes or following the rules. It’s like sneaking something past the guards.
iPhones -: iPhones are a type of smartphone made by a company called Apple. They are very popular and can be quite expensive.
PKR -: PKR stands for Pakistani Rupee, which is the currency used in Pakistan. It’s like how we use Indian Rupees (INR) in India.
Privatization -: Privatization means changing a government-owned company into a privately-owned one. This can happen when the government sells its shares to private buyers.
Tax Liabilities -: Tax liabilities are the amount of money a company or person owes to the government in taxes. It’s like a bill that needs to be paid to the government.