In a major announcement, the new owner of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Arif Habib has confirmed that there would be no layoffs for at least one year to provide job stability to the employees of the national carrier amid a period of planned restructuring.
Habib’s strategy comes as PIA goes through a full-fledged revival, with fleet expansion, operational development with cargo services. The purpose of the move is to reassure employees as well as encourage performance-based promotions such that merit and efficiency play the central role.
A cornerstone of the plan is the growth in the size of PIA’s fleet. As things stand, only 17 of its 34 aircraft are operational. Habib intends to increase this number to 38, creating opportunities throughout the airline, from pilots and cabin crew, to maintenance engineers, ground staff and support teams.
Advanced training programs will also be introduced, which will allow employees to upskill and new recruits to join the workforce in the aviation industry.
The expansion is expected to have a ripple effect not only for the airline. Local businesses providing aircraft parts and services and new employment programs that train residents to repair aircrafts will benefit, as will new domestic routes and international routes that increase tourism and regional economies.
PIA’s cargo operations are also scheduled for a major overhaul and this is expected to create jobs in the fields of logistics, cargo handling and customs management. With an emphasis of attracting international freight, the airline looks to strengthen its global operations while creating other employment opportunities.
Economic analysts are of the view that the broader ramifications of PIA’s growth will move beyond the field of aviation. Increased demand for hospitality, transport and retail services could lead to upsurge of local economies while stable workforce may lead to upsurge of operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Experts highlight that government support including policy reform and infrastructure investment will be highly important in ensuring to sustain these aviation jobs and how they can modernize the sector.
With Arif Habib at the helm PIA is in a new era. Job security for employees, fleet and cargo expansion, and performance-driven initiatives suggest a bright future for the Pakistani aviation industry providing a potential for thousands of new opportunities as well as supporting the airline’s position on the local and international level.
Also read: Arif Habib Group: the business empire now behind PIA
