PIA Airbus at Dubai Airport. Photo: PIA website
The tender for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be held on December 23. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that transparency and merit would remain at the heart of the entire process and announced that the tender would be broadcast live on national television.
According to Express NewsThe Prime Minister met with business leaders and representatives of companies involved in the transaction, assuring them that the process was proceeding smoothly as part of wider efforts to revive the national carrier.
The prime minister said the national carrier’s lost reputation must be revived through a credible and orderly transition. He added that the reform and disinvestment process was moving forward in a structured and efficient manner.
He further said that the government was determined to bring PIA into compliance with modern aviation standards. “InshaAllah, PIA will soon once again live up to its old slogan ‘Great people to fly with’,” he remarked.
Reiterating his commitment to a corruption-free process, the Prime Minister said transparency would be ensured at every stage. “The entire bid on December 23, 2025 will be broadcast live on all media channels so that the nation can witness the process,” he added.
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The Prime Minister said the restoration of PIA’s global routes would greatly benefit overseas Pakistanis by providing reliable connectivity. Modernizing the airline, he added, is also key to strengthening Pakistan’s tourism sector, which requires a competitive and efficient national carrier.
He expressed hope that the bidder who ultimately takes charge will devote “all its energies” to restoring the airline’s identity and ensuring its long-term growth. Participants commended the government for adopting what they described as a transparent and professional mechanism for the privatization exercise.
According to the proposed business plan, the name and branding of PIA will remain unchanged after privatization. The carrier’s fleet is expected to grow from 18 to 38 operational aircraft within four years, with services expected to reach more than 40 cities by 2029.
The government’s renewed efforts to privatize PIA follow a failed bid last year, when a single bid of 10 billion rupees ($36 million) from property developer Blue World City was received for a 60 percent stake. The offer, well below the government’s floor price of 85 billion rupees ($305 million), was rejected.
The Privatization Commission reopened the process in April, inviting local and international investors to register interest for a 51 to 100 percent stake. The renewed process attracted interest from eight entities, four of which were shortlisted after federal approval in July, including prominent business groups and a private education operator.
The sale of PIA is expected to mark Pakistan’s first major privatization in almost two decades. Reviving loss-making state-owned enterprises like PIA remains a key structural objective under the International Monetary Fund’s ongoing $7 billion bailout program.
