PIA where next?

When this national flag carrier started its journey, we as a country were not very rich but we had determination. PIA soon became a regional and later an international player in aviation. It not only helped in launch of Emirates and Air Singapore (Singapore Airline) but also produced world class pilots.

With the time PIA started loosing its fame. The problem seemed to be more political than financial. PIA fares are still not below others but its service and dedication has certainly gone down. It can not be revived through appointment of army officials or bureaucrats but it can only be restored through dedicated team. Privatization can be seen as a way out but just remember that we have only one ‘national carrier’ and national flag carriers are in fact matter of pride for countries. Concerning flag carrier, the design of PIA airplanes was changed (outer paint etc) but who did it, was nation or national assembly been consulted on this matter- no idea? There are some people making decision on our behalf but only for their own interests!

Well following news is evident where our PIA is heading to:

Brussels: The European Union is set to ban most of Pakistan International Airlines' fleet from flying to the 27-country bloc because of safety concerns, an EU source said yesterday.

The source said a committee of experts had decided to block all but seven planes of the airline's 40-plane fleet from flying to Europe for failing to meet international safety standards. "Only those seven will be allowed to make flights to European Union countries," the source said. "The rest of the fleet will be blacklisted."

The decision is likely to come into force in about 10 days, the source said, once made official by the European Commission

Gulf News 24 February 2007

(http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/02/24/10106654.html)

where do we stand now? BRIC

BBC Wednesday, 14 February 2007

'Big three' hold key Delhi talks

The foreign ministers of India, China and Russia are meeting in the Indian capital, Delhi, to discuss terrorism, drug trafficking and Afghanistan. They are also assessing developments in Iran, Iraq and North Korea. The relationship between the three countries was first proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during a visit to Delhi in 1998.
This is the second such talks between the ministers to focus on a number of international issues.The foreign ministers of the three countries last met in Vladivostok in Russia in 2005. "As Russia's relations .. with China grew deeper, India-China relations .. normalised [and] Beijing and New Delhi manifested mounting interest in contacts with Russia in tripartite format on a wide range of matters of mutual interest..," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted saying by the Itar-Tass news agency ahead of the meeting.

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It is now time to think where do we as Pakistan stand on world stage. New world order is BRIC i.e. Brasil, Russia, India and China with of course military might of the USA. Russians proved to be more loyal to India than our friends US and they are still shoulder to shoulder with India after 60 years. Have we realised at what stage India is playing in global affairs? never unfortunately we have become a consumer society while India is able to maintain its productivity. Mittal Steel, Tata and now Hindalco all are now able to manipulate the world economy and what do you say how long China will treat us a privileged after all she needs raw material.

The issue is not to blame or follow India but it is now time to analyse where do we stand as a country and its citizen. It is time to have some vision about our future place as nation and as millat not the vision we are getting now but the vision in lines with 1947.

that's all for today.. just don't forget, we all need improvements in our lives to improve our country!