On Sunday, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori disclosed that Karachi traders are keen on purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
During an interview with local news channel ARY News, Tessori mentioned that these traders have been actively discussing the PIA privatization process with him.
“The traders from Karachi are proposing to take over PIA for a year. They are seriously considering launching a new airline,” stated Governor Tessori.
He suggested naming the new airline ‘PK’ to symbolize Pakistan and Karachi. Additionally, he acknowledged the Punjab government’s potential initiative to start “Air Punjab.”
Read: Only One Buyer Steps Up in PIA Privatization Bidding
Governor Tessori noted that introducing new airlines would generate employment opportunities within the country.
This statement comes shortly after the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government showed interest in the PIA privatization by planning to participate in the bidding. The KP Investment Board has already communicated its intentions to Abdul Aleem Khan, the Federal Minister for Privatization.
Furthermore, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif recently revealed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had consulted him about purchasing PIA to transform it into ‘Air Punjab.’
Read: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt Bids to Acquire Pakistan International Airlines
“Maryam sought my advice on whether we should acquire PIA and rebrand it as a completely new airline,” Nawaz Sharif shared in a statement.
However, the final bidding process for PIA privatization attracted only one offer—a bid of Rs10 billion ($36 million) for a 60% stake in the national flag carrier, below the government’s minimum price requirement of Rs85 billion. Despite pre-qualifying six groups in June, only the real estate development company Blue World City submitted a bid.
