Asif Ali Zardari directs all possible assistance to the families of Bhoja Air crash victims

Karachi: Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, directed PIA to provide all possible assistance to the families of Bhoja Air crash victims and bring back the Coffins of the deceased to Karachi, free of charge. PIA Spokesman said here on Saturday.

PIA immediately made arrangements and Managing Director PIA, Air Chief Marshall ( R ) Rao Qamar Suleman ordered PIA officials to activate the Emergency Response Centre at Karachi and Islamabad and the emergency rescue teams to reach the air crash site to assist the rescue operations.

Senior Officials of PIA immediately reached the airport and in coordination with the Bhoja Air administration obtained the passengers manifest and contact numbers to inform their families that one of the family members of the deceased passengers’ would be taken to Islamabad by PK-300 at 7:00 AM (Saturday) and would be provided free PIA ticket for the travel.

PK-300 carried 94 family members of the deceased and at Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad special arrangements were made to take them to the hospital for identification. PIA also announced that the bodies of the air crash victims would also be flown back to Karachi without any charges. Of the 127 deceased, six dead bodies were registered at 8:00 AM which were boarded on PK-301, on reaching Karachi one of the family member of the victim complained to the media that they were asked to pay for transporting the dead body.

MD PIA immediately took notice and instructed the Islamabad staff that strict action would be taken against the official. Director Marketing PIA immediately rushed to Islamabad to supervise the operation after which ten dead bodies were brought free of charge to Karachi on flight PK 369. Eleven dead bodies on PK 309 which arrived Karachi at 9:00 PM. PIA would continue providing gratis passage and relief operation till the victims of Bhoja air crash are brought back to Karachi.

PIA spokesman deeply regret the unfortunate incidence and assure the victim family charged for bringing the dead body to Karachi by PK 301, that any amount charged would be refunded. —

For more information, contact:
S. Sultan Hasan
General Manager, Public Affairs
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Tel: +9221 9904 0000
Fax: +9221 3457 2225, 3457 0419