Islamabad, Nov 10 — A year-long dispute between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) engineers and the airline’s management has escalated into a full-blown protest, disrupting flights and stranding hundreds of passengers across the country. The engineers, represented by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP), have alleged unfair treatment, stagnant wages, and serious safety concerns within the national carrier.
According to a report by Dawn, on November 3, aircraft engineers refused to issue airworthiness clearance certificates, causing major delays, particularly on flights bound for Saudi Arabia. SAEP members cited two main issues behind their protest — salary disparities compared to pilots, and the alleged reuse of old aircraft parts due to non-availability of new spares, which they claim could compromise passenger safety.
For the past two months, engineers have been wearing black armbands as a symbol of protest over pay stagnation. The situation escalated when engineers refused to clear flights, stating they would not compromise on safety standards.
In response, PIA management accused the SAEP of deliberately attempting to disrupt operations and undermine the ongoing privatisation process. “A de-recognised entity, SAEP, tried to halt operations during late hours with a nefarious design to sabotage privatisation,” the airline said in a statement.
Following the incident, SAEP President Abdullah Jadoon and Secretary General Awais Jadoon were terminated from service, prompting the union to announce plans to challenge the dismissals in court.
The protest comes as the Pakistan government seeks to privatise the debt-laden airline, which has incurred losses exceeding USD 2.5 billion over the past decade. Authorities received expressions of interest from five entities in June, including private business groups and a military-owned company, as efforts continue to rescue the struggling national carrier.
