Bipin Shah   Self Employed
Trying to cut costs by shutting its overseas offices, Air India (AI) is facing a unique problem in Pakistan. Islamabad has refused to grant visas to AI staff who want to go over to wind up operations.

AI has offices in Karachi and Lahore, but no direct flights to Pakistan. ?We want to shut down our offices in these two cities as we do not operate from there anymore. Already all the staff have been called back,? AI CMD Arvind Jadhav told The Indian Express.

The airline pays about Rs 32 lakh per annum as rent for the two offices.

Earlier, it was decided that Jadhav would visit Pakistan to shut down the offices. But he was denied a visa. He then delegated the task to some senior executives, who too failed to get visas.

?We have been trying to get visas for the last six months, but all to no avail,? said Jadhav.

Following restoration of air links in 2008, AI operated Delhi-Lahore flights for some time before discontinuing them in 2009.

?What?s the point of flying to Pakistan when hardly any visas are issued?? said a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official. Pakistan has a restrictive visa policy for Indians, with the exception being Indian businessmen who are allowed multiple entry following intervention by local business chambers.

The bilateral agreement allows up to 28 flights a week to each other?s country, and three carriers from each side. Ministry officials said Pakistan?s Air Blue has often expressed a desire to fly to India.

?However, air links between India and Pakistan remain a matter of political will and climate,? said a government official.
Nov 2nd 2010 05:17