National Assembly's Standing Committee on Government Assurances has directed the PIA management to immediately redesign the present uniform of air-hostesses keeping in view our cultural, religious and traditional values. The Committee met here in the Parliament House on Thursday with MNA Haji Khuda Bux Nizamani in chair. The committee discussed the assurance given by Parliamentary Secretary for Defence on the floor of House on a Calling Attention Notice moved by MNA Samia Raheel Qazi and others regarding change in uniform of PIA air-hostesses. The Committee, while discussing the matter observed PIA did not consider the cultural, religious and traditional values in the uniform introduced for the airhostesses in early 2004.
The Committee advised PIA management instead of bringing innovation in uniforms and changing outlook of the cabin crew, it should concentrate on enhancing the standard of its ground and in-flight services. Similarly, attitudes towards their clients in order to attract maximum business should be redressed, and compete with other airlines, said a news release issued here on Thursday.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Raza Hayat Hiraj informed the committee that uniform in question had already been redesigned according to the aspirations of the Committee and PIA had been directed to abstain from initiating anything which was in contradiction to our values.
The Committee also asked the PIA management to review the retirement age of airhostesses which was a sheer violation of basic human rights. The Minister of State informed the Committee that in the matter decision of the court was awaited.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Sher Akbar Khan, Mehnaz Rafi, Azhar Ahmad Khan Yousufzai, Malik Liaquat Ali Dogar, Moulvi Muhammad Sadiq, Samia Raheel Qazi, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, Pervaiz Masih and Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, Aisha Munawar, Bilquis Saif, while Jameela Ahmad attended the meeting on special invitation.