PIA management and PALPA have finalized working agreement 2011-2013 deferring Article -2 of the agreement which relates to extending financial benefits to the airline's Pilots.

PIA spokesman elaborating the situation said here on Thursday that PALPA themselves has on a voluntary basis agreed not to avail any financial benefit accruing due to the signing of the working agreement for the time being until the financial health of the airline improves to a satisfactory level.

He said that working agreement concerns mostly operational matters concerning Pilots working conditions, flight duty time, flight safety and aviation rules and regulations.

Such agreements are prevalent in all airlines to safeguard the working conditions of the pilots and are signed between PIA management and PALPA every two years.

He said that since PALPA has foregone the implementation of Article -2 which concerns extending of Financial Benefits under the new agreement therefore status quo would be maintained on the salary, allowances and other financial benefits for the Pilots as has been agreed by PALPA.

The Spokesman said that besides the agreement PALPA has time and again suggested measures on cost cutting and fuel saving measures.

Since they have full understanding about the present financial position of the airline and have appreciated the efforts of Managing Director PIA, Nadeem Khan Yousufzai.

It may be mentioned that working agreement finalized by PALPA and PIA Management will be put up before PIA Board of Directors for approval before it may be implemented.