Another Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight crew member has reportedly gone missing while on duty after landing in Canada.
The missing crew member, Mohsin Raza, is originally from Islamabad.
Raza was scheduled to board a flight from Toronto to Karachi on October 13, 2024. However, he went missing during a layover in Toronto.
Dawn’s reports suggest he was found missing from his hotel room.
A PIA spokesman has announced that an investigation has been initiated against the missing crew member.
Despite attempts to tackle the issue, the number of flight attendants missing in Canada is increasing more frequently.
12 crew members have gone missing in a year, putting PIA under immense pressure.
Earlier this year, in February, an air hostess left, leaving a “thank you PIA” note behind her.
Experts cite low pay and a lack of job security within the national airline as the primary reasons behind these alleged instances of slippage, but above all, it tarnishes the image of the country on an international level.
The Current spoke to Alan James, an immigration lawyer from Canada, working with the Ace Luxury Group – a multi-national consulting agency – about the reason behind the escapes of Pakistani flight attendants from Toronto.
People like Pakistani flight attendants are “effectively” able to seek asylum in Canada as they claim prejudice in their own country.
“Each case is different, yet if they can prove persecution or danger from a political or religious family, Canada is open to helping such individuals,” he explained.
He also mentioned that asylum cases, on average, take six months to one year.
The Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation was told in August that PIA’s privatisation project would be completed by October 1. The national flag carrier stopped reaping fruits in 2011.
The caretaker setup had decided to privatise the loss-making state-owned institute back in June 2023 upon the insistence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Election Commission intervened and asked the government to “refrain” from finalising it.
Then, in April, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the process of privatising PIA would be finalised by the end of June or early July, but it was delayed until October 1.
However, it has been stalled again because the bidding company is demanding 100 per cent share ownership instead of the previously discussed 60 per cent.
Notably, the airline’s deficit has reached 500 billion rupees, which is close to not functioning at all.
