Islamabad, Aug 7 - Coming to the aid of Pakistan's cash-strapped national carrier, Pakistan Internatinoal Airlines (PIA), a parliamentary committee has called for urgent steps to arrest the declining trends in the airline, Online news agency reported Thursday.

'With the total accumulated losses standing at colossal Rs. 142 billion, some serious thinking has to be done and difficult decisions have to be taken before we can think of bringing the Corporation back from precipice,' the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, which met at the Parliament House Thursday evening, said.

Stressing that urgents steps required to revive the deteriorating fiancial health of the airline, the committee directed the senior management of PIA to come out with a 'comprehensive bailout package' not only for survival as a viable financial entity but also as a prestigious national organisation.

The committee also stated that the deteriorating service standards, non serious attitude of officers and staff, late and partial redressal of grievances are some of the major complaints which plague PIA.

'It has been observed that often half the plane is vacant when the general public has been informed that no more seats are available. Being frequent travelers senators have observed this phenomenon almost routinely,' it said.