PIA Airbus at Dubai airport. Photo: PIA website
The tender for privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be held on December 23. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that transparency and merit will remain central to the entire process and announced that the tender will be broadcast live on national television.
According Express NewsThe prime minister met with business leaders and representatives of the companies involved in the transaction, assuring them that the process was proceeding smoothly as part of broader efforts to revive the national airline.
The prime minister said the national airline’s lost reputation must be restored through a credible and orderly transition. He added that the reform and divestment process was advancing in a structured and efficient manner.
He further said that the government was committed to aligning PIA with modern aviation standards. “InshaAllah, PIA will soon live up to its old slogan of ‘Great People to Fly With’,” he said.
Reiterating his commitment to a corruption-free process, the prime minister said transparency would be ensured at every stage. “The entire tender on December 23, 2025 will be broadcast live on all media channels so that the nation can witness the process first-hand,” he added.
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The prime minister said restoring PIA’s global routes would greatly benefit overseas Pakistanis by providing them with reliable connectivity. Modernizing the airline, he said, was also essential to strengthen Pakistan’s tourism sector, which required a competitive and efficient national airline.
He expressed hope that whoever eventually takes over will devote all his “energies” to restoring the airline’s identity and ensuring its long-term growth. Participants praised the government for adopting what they described as a transparent and professional mechanism for the privatization exercise.
According to the proposed business plan, PIA’s name and brand will remain unchanged after privatization. The airline’s fleet is expected to expand from 18 to 38 operational aircraft within four years, with services expected to reach more than 40 cities by 2029.
The government’s renewed effort to privatize PIA follows a failed bid last year when only a 10 billion rupees ($36 million) offer was received from real estate developer Blue World City for a 60 percent stake. The offer, well below the government’s minimum price of 85 billion rupees ($305 million), was rejected.
The Privatization Commission reopened the process in April, inviting local and international investors to express interest for a 51 to 100 percent stake. The revamped process attracted interest from eight entities, four of which were shortlisted after federal approval in July, including leading business groups and a private education operator.
The sale of PIA is expected to mark Pakistan’s first major privatization in nearly two decades. The revival of loss-making state companies such as PIA remains a key structural reference point within the framework of the International Monetary Fund’s current $7 billion bailout program.
