Karachi’s Traders Want to Buy PIA: Sindh Governor

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori revealed that a group of Karachi-based traders want to buy Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the first to operate it independently for one year. Tessori said the traders are eager to launch a new airline which could be named ‘PK’ (Pakistan + Karachi). The governor also welcomed the Punjab government’s interest in establishing a provincial airline named “Air Punjab.” He said the introduction of new airlines could create more jobs within the country’s aviation sector. There has been increasing interest from several stakeholders, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, which recently signaled its intent to participate in the PIA privatization process. The KP Investment Board reportedly reached out to Federal Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan to submit a bid. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week revealed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had suggested acquiring and rebranding PIA as “Air Punjab” to revive the national flag carrier. The final bidding phase of PIA’s privatization process saw only one bid of Rs. 10 billion ($36 million) from real estate developer Blue World City for a 60 percent stake in the airline. However, the offer fell short of the government’s minimum price of Rs. 85 billion.