Web desk: The government plans to hold the final bidding for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by the end of December. The Privatisation Commission confirmed that the sale is likely to take place in the last week in the end of the month of December.
Several companies are reportedly interested in acquiring the airline, including Fauji Fertilizer, Habib Rafique, Younus Brothers, and Airblue. Four firms have qualified to participate in the privatisation process.
Successful bidders will be required to make an additional investment of Rs 30 to 40 billion. However, PIA’s domestic and international assets are not part of the sale and have been transferred to PIA Holdings Company.
The privatisation will only include the airline’s four main offices in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.
The airline’s name and branding will remain the same. Under the proposed plan, the PIA intends to expand its fleet from 18 to 38 operational aircraft within the next four years.
Despite operating with only 14 to 16 aircraft, PIA made a pre-tax profit of over Rs 11.5 billion in the first six months of the current financial year.
Last year, the airline reported a profit of Rs 26.2 billion. PIA continues to operate flights to countries including Canada, the UK, France, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Out of its total fleet of 32 aircraft, half remain grounded due to engine and spare parts issues. If all aircraft were operational, the airline could have earned an additional Rs 2–3 billion last year.
Currently, PIA serves over 30 cities in Pakistan, with plans to expand to more than 40 cities by 2029.
Renewed Push For Privatisation
As per the reports, the government has renewed efforts to privatise PIA after a failed attempt last year, when only one bid of Rs 10 billion ($36 million) from Blue World City was received for a 60 per cent stake, far below the floor price of Rs 85 billion ($305 million), and was rejected.
In April 2025, the Privatisation Commission reopened the process, inviting local and international investors to submit expressions of interest for a 51–100 per cent stake in the airline.
