Court restores medical benefits for retired PIA employees

KARACHI: The old system of medical facilities for retired employees of PIA has been restored, which will provide relief to thousands of retired employees.

According to details, the Karachi court, while giving an important decision on the petition related to the medical facilities of retired employees of Pakistan International Airlines, declared the recent orders of the administration null and void.

The court has ordered that the old system of medical facilities for employees be restored immediately.

The petition was filed by Air League President Shamim Akmal and others. The petitioner’s lawyer, while giving arguments, took the position that the PIA administration had restricted retired employees to specific hospitals and limited medicines under the new insurance agreement, reimbursement of non-penal services expenses had been abolished, which was severely affecting the elderly employees.

The petition said that retired employees are entitled to OPD and specialist expenses under PIA’s ‘Personnel Policy Manual’, and the new agreement is a clear violation of the ‘PIA Corporation Act’.

The court, after hearing the arguments of the lawyers of the parties, accepted the applications for regular hearing.

The court declared the restrictions imposed by the administration and the new insurance system illegal and ordered to provide all medical facilities under the old policy.

This decision will provide relief to thousands of retired PIA employees who had been struggling for the right to better treatment and care for a long time.