Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that the bidding for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will take place on December 23, with the entire process to be broadcast live on media.
The government is aiming to sell between 51% and 100% of its stake in the loss-making national carrier as part of its broader plan to reform state-owned enterprises under the $7 billion IMF program. If completed, it will mark Pakistan’s first major privatisation in almost 20 years.
Four entities have been pre-qualified for the bidding round: the Lucky Cement Consortium, Arif Habib Corporation Consortium, Fauji Fertiliser Company Limited, and Airblue Limited.
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The prime minister chaired a meeting with corporate representatives participating in the privatisation process. He said the sale process was progressing smoothly and that the government aimed to restore PIA’s lost reputation while ensuring the highest standards of transparency and merit.
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“PIA’s bidding will be held on December 23, 2025, and will be broadcast live on all media,” the statement quoted him as saying. The prime minister added that reviving the national airline was vital not only for overseas Pakistanis but also for the growth of Pakistan’s tourism sector.
He expressed hope that whichever bidder secured the airline would focus their efforts on rebuilding the national carrier’s image and strengthening its operations. “Soon, PIA will once again live up to its tradition of ‘Great People to Fly With’,” he said.
Participants at the meeting reportedly praised the government’s “professional and transparent” handling of the process.
The government had earlier informed a parliamentary committee that the privatisation was expected by November. PM Shehbaz had also instructed authorities last month to fast-track all remaining stages. However, the deadline was not met, prompting the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Privatisation to ask for a definitive timeline and press for urgency in completing the bidding procedure.
