Haj fare raise slammed

Members of National Assembly on Tuesday took critical view of the 7 percent raise in fares on Haj flights by Pakistan International Airlines, giving opposition a pretext to stage a walkout, demanding immediate withdrawal of the raise.
Opposition members expressed grave concern that the national flag carrier was making huge profits under the cover of Haj operation and exploiting the people's sacred religious obligation.
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Tanvir Hussain, informed the house that petroleum prices had risen globally in a very short time from $40 per barrel to $78 per barrel--almost double. Claiming that PIA is a commercial organisation, he said it had to cover the unprecedented increase in oil prices.
He said that the government had forced PIA to continue its flights although it is not making any profits; "rather it is doing business on breakeven".
The Parliamentary Secretary claimed that many passengers go in the disguise of pilgrims and do not return, and the return flights are generally empty.
The burden of fewer passengers is borne by PIA. Farid Ahmad Paracha of MMA took umbrage at Tanvir's comment and rebutted by saying that it was not a loss as all passengers purchase full return ticket.
Tanvir said that multiple expenditure was involved in the flight schedules, out of which charges of hangars at airports are quite high and the plane has to stay for days there.
Even Farooq Azam of the ruling party discarded Tanvir's remark, saying that there was nothing exceptional or new. He said that this routine was with all airlines and the argument of the secretary was invalid.
Replying to another question raised by a member that fares for Peshawar to Manchester are less than those to Saudi Arabia, which is at shorter distance, the secretary said that Saudi Airlines, which is running parallel to PIA for Hujjaj, does not allow for reduced fares, objecting of jeopardising their business.
Gul Rehman demanded that the government should waive tax on air ticket to give relief to the pilgrims.
The Secretary responded that since they were not meeting the contract conditions, the Civil Aviation Authority did not agree to their terms. Secondly, he said, the foreign airlines were willing just to enter the market by offering reduced fares.
Hussain Ahmad said that Indian Airlines gives special package for Haj, which is substantially lower than in Pakistan. At this point, the opposition asked the government to take back the increase in fare of Haj flights and staged a 'token' walkout.