Army Chief orders treatment of corona-hit PIA staff at CMHs
April 28, 2020 04:41 PM
Pakistan Army and Air Force have announced to assist the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in case its employees contract coronavirus while operating relief flights around the world.
Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa ordered that any of the PIA crew members who falls victim to coronavirus while performing their relief flights shall be treated at Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) across the country. He also said that seats will be made available for the PIA employees in C-130 planes.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan also announced that PAF C-130 cargo planes shall transport PIA personnel to the origin of their flights so the corona relief operation can be performed without any delay.
It is pertinent to mention that PIA flight crew members are stranded in various cities due to lack of flight operations and in order to streamline the relief process, it is important to transport the flight crews to respective airports on time.
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PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik expressed gratitude to the Army Chief and Air Chief and has stated that in this hour of need, the cooperation of all the country's institutions is a source of national strength.
So far more than 24,000 people have returned to their homes through PIA flights. “We have received thousands of inquiries from people all over the world regarding the available flights and our staff all over the world is making sure to assist them,” he added.
Arshad also said that operation shall continue with the government’s permission till the last Pakistani returns home.
Moreover PIA will also repatriate the corpses of those who have breathed their last abroad. “We have full support of the government therefore we are sincerely grateful to Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan for his efforts,” said the PIA CEO.
Meanwhile, 250 more Pakistanis have returned from Dubai on Tuesday by PIA flight PK-786. At Karachi Airport, the authorities took them to an isolation ward and started their screening.
They said they will shift the corona suspects to the quarantine centre.