All domestic and international flights run by Pakistan’s ailing flag carrier were cancelled on Wednesday as the country-wide strike by PIA employees opposing the government’s privatisation move entered the second day.
Pakistan International Airlines workers’ unions went on strike on Tuesday while the pilots joined in the evening after three workers were shot dead during clashes between security forces and PIA staff at Karachi’s international airport.
At least 12 others were injured in the clashes. A PIA official said that all domestic and international flights were cancelled as pilots and airport staff were not available to handle the cargo and the passengers. Four major airports - Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport - saw a huge rush of passengers due to flight cancellations. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is trying to convince private airlines to operate additional flights to make up for the flights cancelled.