CAA takes back decision to plastic-wrap all luggage

After severe backlash, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has withdrawn the decision that made it compulsory for air travelers to plastic-wrap their checked luggage.

Notifying the compulsion, CAA had said it was implemented for the safety of passengers and the price for wrapping each piece of baggage was set at Rs50.

New wrapping machines were to also be installed at airport check-in areas, however, the decision was severely criticised by travelers as well as environmentalists, which led to the reversion.

Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Jahangir Tareen was among those who criticised the notification.

Just came across a very illogical notification issued by the CAA. Forcing passengers to wrap their luggage is not on. People should have the right to decide whether they want their luggage wrapped or not. The notification should be withdrawn asap. pic.twitter.com/lEyFhOcAJR

— Jahangir Khan Tareen (@JahangirKTareen) July 21, 2019

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari notified the withdrawal on Twitter saying that it was never a federal government decision as it was not discussed by the cabinet.

The plastic covering for outgoing baggage notification is wrong. Federal govt was incorrectly mentioned as Federal Govt means Cabinet and no such issue was even discussed in Cabinet let alone decided upon.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) July 21, 2019

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir has posted a video clarifying that the wrapping was mandatory only for Hajj flights as it was a requirement of the government of Saudi Arabia.

میں سیکرٹری ایوی ایشن کا شکریہ ادا کرتی ہوں کہ انہوں نے میرے کہنے پر ہوائی سفر کے لئے دیئے گئے لوڈنگ کے سامان ہر پلاسٹک چڑھانے کے معاملے پر فوری ایکشن لے لیا ہے۔

صرف حج کی فلائٹس پر یہ ضروری ہے کیونکہ سعودی حکومت کو یہ درکار تھا۔

1/n pic.twitter.com/xHQPbXQulz

— Zartaj Gul Wazir (@zartajgulwazir) July 21, 2019