London: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revealed that his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, proposed an ambitious plan to purchase Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and rebrand it as “Air Punjab.” Sharif disclosed this idea while addressing supporters in New York. He shared that Maryam suggested transforming the airline into a premier global carrier under the name “Air Punjab.”
“Maryam said that we should buy PIA and name it ‘Air Punjab’ after making it the best airline,” Nawaz shared during the discussion with supporters.
New Airline Vision from Lahore to Global Destinations
Nawaz Sharif mentioned advising Maryam to consider starting a new airline that could connect Pakistani cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi with international destinations. He suggested the possibility of creating a brand-new fleet of planes. Sharif said that consultations have already begun on the proposal.
“I told Maryam to have consultations around it. I told her that you can buy the PIA and also establish a new airline too and that Air Punjab should go from Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi to New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and other cities,” Nawaz explained.
Concerns Over PIA’s Decline Under Previous Government
Sharif voiced concerns over the significant losses PIA faced during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s tenure. He criticized former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar’s statement that PIA pilots lacked proper licenses, noting the damage it caused to the airline’s reputation.
“I am aggrieved at the destruction of PIA and those who did so are amongst us. The minister’s claim about pilot licenses caused immense damage. Even if it were true, such matters should not have been disclosed publicly,” Nawaz lamented. He also mentioned that he had to change flights en route to the U.S., highlighting the airline’s decline.
KP Government Shows Interest in Purchasing PIA
Nawaz’s remarks come a day after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) expressed interest in purchasing PIA, with a bid exceeding Rs10 billion. The KP Board of Investment wrote to the Privatisation Ministry, formally stating its intent to join the bidding process.
Privatisation Commission’s Efforts to Revamp PIA
The Privatisation Commission, aiming to revive the debt-ridden airline, announced plans to reinitiate the bidding process after receiving a sole bid of Rs10 billion from Blue World City Consortium, far below the airline’s valuation of Rs85 billion. Initially, six bidders qualified for the process, but five of them have since opted out.
Cash-strapped Pakistan is pursuing the sale of a 51-100% stake in PIA to address the financial burden of the state-owned enterprise, in line with a $7 billion IMF reform programme.
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