KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to grant a special allowance to its Aircraft Engineers, following a more than two-month-long protest organized by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP), ARY News reported.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the increase will reflect in engineers’ salaries this December, while allowances will be raised starting from November.
The protest, which began on November 2, saw Aircraft Engineers refusing to issue clearing certificates for flights, resulting in cancellations and delays across hundreds of domestic and international flights. For two months, engineers carried out a symbolic demonstration by wearing protest bands on their shoulders to highlight their demands.
According to SAEP representatives, the protest revolved around two key issues: salary disparities and concerns over safety and the availability of spare parts.
The PIA Board of Directors reviewed the airline’s performance over the past two years, especially in light of safety standards, and decided that recognizing the engineers’ contributions with a special allowance would both reward their service and enhance the professional standards of the national carrier.
Officials also noted that the decision takes into account the possible privatization of the airline in the near future.
