Rehan Shahid 
Dec 03, 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has entered the final stage of privatisation as bidding is slated for December 23.
State-run media reported that during a meeting with all business figures and company representatives participating in the national carrier's privatisation, the prime minister made a decision as he stressed that transparency and merit were the government's foremost priorities, and the bidding will be shown live across the country.
The premier said that the privatisation process was progressing smoothly to restore PIA’s lost identity and align the national airline with modern requirements according to international standards.
"God willing, PIA will soon once again live up to its tradition of being 'Great People to Fly With'," he added.
The remarks come as Islamabad presses ahead with a fresh attempt to privatise the national flag carrier, a key condition under Pakistan’s $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
The prime minister said that the restoration of PIA’s global flight operations would benefit overseas Pakistanis, and modernising the airline was equally vital for advancing Pakistan’s tourism sector.
He remarked: "To strengthen tourism, it is essential to bring the national airline in line with contemporary demands."
According to the statement, participants commended the government for adopting a professional and transparent mechanism for the airline’s privatisation.
It should be noted that the PIA resumed flights to the United Kingdom, more than five years after a ban over a fake pilot license scandal was lifted in July.
