PIA announces initial cash compensation for PK661 victims

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced to pay Rs. 500,000 to the families of each of the 47 people onboard the ill-fated ATR-42 that crashed in the mountainous terrain near Havelian on Wednesday. 

According to a statement issued by the airline's spokesman Danyal Gilani, "on the directions of Chairman and CEO PIA an amount of Rs. 500,000 cash is being given to the next of kin of all the 47 persons who lost their lives in the tragic ATR crash, to meet funeral expenses."

Gilani further added, that district managers of PIA have been directed to visit the residences of the deceased and personally hand over the cash amounts.

The airline will also pay each family a comprehensive compensation package as per law, the statement concluded. 

Additionally the airline is providing tickets to the relatives of the victims as well as accommodation in Islamabad. For those family members wishing to travel to the crash site the airline will arrange the families to visit the location. 

Relatives console one another as they wait to supply DNA samples for the identification of remains of victims of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash at PIMS hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan December 8, 2016. REUTERS