People’s Unity, a union representing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees, has challenged the airline’s recent flight kitchen contracts, alleging inflated costs and potential corruption.
The union's General Secretary, Rana Mohammad Kashif, has filed a petition challenging the contracts, alleging inflated costs and potential corruption.
Rana Kashif believes that the cost of PIA's flight kitchen is Rs 1.4 billion, while the contract for the same work is being given to a firm called Kitchen Cuisine for Rs 1.680 billion. The federal government, PIA and two private companies and Kitchen Cuisine have been made parties in the petition.
The ongoing process of outsourcing flight kitchens in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad by PIA is highlighted in the application.
It has been said in the application that the tender of two private companies for Lahore and Islamabad has been approved, while Karachi flight kitchen is yet to be auctioned.
The financial figures mentioned in the application reveal that the annual cost of PIA for the flight kitchen in Islamabad is Rs 1.4 billion. However, the contract awarded to Kitchen Cuisine for the same services amounts to Rs 1.68. If the current situation persists, PIA is projected to incur an annual loss of Rs 800 million at Islamabad Airport.
Expressing concerns over PIA's precarious financial position, Rana Kashif prayed the court to declare the flight kitchen tender null and void.
The office-bearers of People's Unity in Karachi organized a protest against the decision, led by central president Hidayatullah.
Addressing the employees, Hidayatullah emphasized that awarding contracts at higher prices raises suspicions of corruption and declared their commitment to risking their lives to save the airlines.
