Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori recently announced that a group of traders from Karachi is interested in purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and plans to manage it independently for one year. This group is even considering starting a new airline, possibly named “PK” to represent both Pakistan and Karachi.
Tessori also showed support for the Punjab government’s idea to start a provincial airline called “Air Punjab.” He noted that adding new airlines to the industry could help create more job opportunities within Pakistan’s aviation sector.
Interest in PIA’s privatization seems to be growing, as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has also expressed an interest in joining the bidding process. However, recent offers for PIA have fallen short of the government’s expectations. The latest bid came from Blue World City, a real estate company, which offered Rs. 10 billion (about $36 million). This bid is far below the government’s minimum asking price of Rs. 85 billion.
The potential entry of private and provincial airlines reflects a push to boost Pakistan’s aviation industry, though challenges remain, especially regarding PIA’s sale price. Many are watching closely to see if these new plans will bring much-needed investment and improvements to Pakistan’s air travel sector.
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