PIA's
fuel bill in the first half of the current financial year has almost
doubled and additional cost absorbed is approximately Rs2.7 billion as
compared with the corresponding period of last year. The half yearly
financial results indicate that due to enhanced cost of fuel, the
national carrier had to incur a loss of Rs1,172 million. The operating
revenue during first half was estimated at Rs18,945 million as against
the operating expenditures of Rs19,032 million causing an operating
loss of Rs 87 million aggravating the liquidity problems for the
national airline.
QIAP
Quaid-e-Azam
International Airport Karachi is the premier airport of Pakistan. It
handles the biggest number of air travellers, users and cargo in the
country despite loosing a fair number of airlines to Lahore and
Islamabad Airports. It also serves the biggest number of airlines and
aircraft type in the country. QIAP contributes 65 per cent to the
total revenues of the Civil Aviation Authority. PAGE talked to
the Airport Director QIAP, Brigadier Tariq Mahmood, to highlight
operational and financial issues.
New
IT Policy
Government has
announced first IT policy. Federal Minister for Science and
Technology, Atta-ur-Rehman said, IT policy has its main focus on the
development of basic IT infrastructure and IT education in the
country. Development of skilled manpower, internet usage and software
development are some of the salient features of IT policy.
LPG Business
Privatization
Commission conducted open bidding for LPG business of SSGC, PSO and
SNGPL. The accumulated bids amounted to Rs 630 million and the
participants were mostly foreign investors. The offers may not be very
attractive but have paved the way for privatization of other
state-owned enterprises.
