Pakistan’s government will broadcast the upcoming privatization bidding for the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) live on television, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday, stressing that transparency and merit remain the government’s highest priorities.
Sharif made the remarks during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House with business leaders and representatives of companies participating in the bidding process. Senior federal ministers, advisers, and other officials were also present.
Officials said the list of bidders includes a mix of domestic conglomerates, international aviation groups and investment funds that submitted Expressions of Interest during the pre-qualification phase.
These entities have experience in aviation management, global logistics, infrastructure, and financial restructuring. Their participation is being cited by government officials as a sign of investor confidence in Pakistan’s aviation sector and the commercial potential of a restructured PIA.
Sharif said the privatization process is progressing smoothly to restore PIA’s lost prestige and align the airline with modern international standards. “God willing, PIA will soon once again live up to its tradition of being ‘Great People to Fly With,’” he said, adding that restoring global flight operations would greatly benefit overseas Pakistanis, while modernization would boost the country’s tourism industry.
Emphasizing openness, the prime minister announced: “We are ensuring full transparency and merit in PIA’s privatization. The bidding will be broadcast live nationwide.”
During the meeting, all bidders praised the government for conducting the process professionally and transparently.
Federal ministers attending included Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Azam Nazir Tarar, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser Muhammad Ali, and Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, alongside senior officials.
Sharif concluded by expressing hope that the winning bidder would dedicate their full efforts to restoring the airline’s identity and ensuring its future growth. The live bidding for PIA’s privatization is scheduled for December 23, 2025.
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