ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Tuesday that it had restored flight operations nationwide after delays caused by what it described as a “strike” by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP). The disruption, which began late Monday night, led to hours-long delays and cancellations of several international flights.
According to PIA, engineers associated with the SAEP halted aircraft clearances, grounding operations at major airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot. The airline accused the “de-recognised entity” of attempting to “sabotage the privatisation process” by halting work.
PIA said its management and key engineering officials worked “through the night” to restore operations using alternative arrangements. “Flight operations are now fully restored, and customer convenience remains our utmost priority,” the airline said in a statement.
A total of seven flights, including those bound for Jeddah, Madina, Riyadh, and Dubai, departed after delays ranging from four to fourteen hours, while five others were cancelled with passengers offered alternate bookings.
A derecognized entity (SEAP), in order to pressurize the management, tried to halt the operations during late hours of yesterday night with their nefarious design to sabotage the privatization process.
Management team alongwith key post holders of Engineering Dept. immediately…
— PIA (@Official_PIA) November 4, 2025
However, the SAEP denied staging a strike, saying engineers were merely adhering to “mandatory safety and certification protocols.” SAEP President Abdullah Jadoon said over 570 engineers were participating in the protest and would continue until their long-standing professional and financial demands were addressed.
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“Instead of resolving legitimate concerns, management has mischaracterised compliance with safety standards as disruption,” a senior SAEP member said.
PIA engineers have been staging demonstrations for nearly three months, demanding pay raises and improved working conditions. The dispute adds to the national carrier’s ongoing operational and financial woes as it moves toward privatisation.
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