Media propaganda against airline
Dear Sir,
I travelled from Peshawar to Doha by PIA flights 287 and 288 recently and found the journey quite comfortable. The flights were on time and actually reached the destination 15 minutes before the scheduled arrival.
Cabin crew members were co-operative, in their best behaviour with all the passengers on board. During the whole journey, no technical fault developed nor anybody complained about lack of any facility.
However, I was shocked to find there was a strikingly low number of passengers on board, especially compared with other airlines operating on the same sector.
Several reasons like mismanagement, inefficient administrative personnel and poor facilities could bring about a drop in the number of the passengers in airlines but in case of PIA, its image was distorted solely by the media through its unauthentic and sensational reporting. Whenever there is a slight delay in any flight, due to reasons beyond the airline’s control like inclement weather, so much is aired and written about it that even Pakistanis themselves, let alone foreigners, book their flights on other airlines and stop travelling by their own national carriers.
A somewhat similar situation befell us at the Peshawar airport recently when our transit flight arrived a little late from Islamabad because of torrential rains there. Many passengers began to raise a hue and cry about it.
But what can the management of an airline do when weather hampers a flight’s departure or arrival? The airlines, one must realise, have always to ensure the safety and security of its passengers.
I request private media channels in Pakistan to look at the ground realities before airing or printing any news regarding the national assets and not to exaggerate situations that may cause loss or defamation to the national airline.
Guldar Ali Khan Wazir, guldarali99@gmail.com
Slowly, safely
Dear Sir,
The report “Holding a mobile phone while driving is a traffic violation” (Gulf Times, July 24), needs to be read by all motorists in Qatar.
Many road accidents can be avoided if we stop talking or texting messages on our mobiles while behind the wheel. A momentary diversion can cause a disaster while one is driving.
Speed is another factor in all road deaths and injuries, which we can and should avoid by starting early to wherever we are going. Remember the slogan: “Speed thrills, but kills.”
Let us all make a pledge not to be diverted by our mobile phones while driving and to go slowly and reach safely.
Fariha Abdul Aziz, Doha, (Address supplied)
Please send us your letters
By e-mail editor@gulf-times.com
Fax 44350474
All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the writer, address and phone number. The writer’s name and address may be withheld by request.