Naqvi greets nation on successful privatisation of PIA

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has congratulated the entire nation on the successful privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), calling it a major milestone for the country’s aviation sector.

In a statement, the interior minister expressed confidence that the national flag carrier would now move toward a new phase of growth and stability. He said the privatisation would enable the PIA to overcome long-standing challenges and operate on modern, professional and competitive lines.

“The PIA will now reach new heights of success,” Naqvi said, adding that the airline has the potential to once again become a symbol of national pride.

He stated that the public would soon see the return of PIA’s “golden era,” marked by improved services, better management and enhanced passenger experience. According to the interior minister, these positive changes would restore public trust in the airline.

Naqvi expressed the hope that travellers would once again prefer flying with PIA as service quality improves and international standards are restored. He emphasized that successful privatisation reflected the government’s commitment to economic reforms and institutional revival.

Earlier in the day, Arif Habib Group won the bid to purchase the PIA for Rs135 billion after a fierce bidding battle with Lucky Cement Group. Lucky Group gave a final bid of Rs134 billion but Arif Habib won the bid after offering Rs135 billion.  

In a related development, Privatisation Commission Chairman Muhammad Ali expressed optimism about the national flag carrier’s prospects, saying PIA has a great future ahead.

He said the airline was successfully bid for Rs135 billion, adding that Rs125 billion would be reinvested into PIA to strengthen its operations.

Muhammad Ali said the investment plan included the purchase of new aircraft and the launch of new domestic and international routes to improve connectivity and service quality. He noted that Pakistan’s top business groups participated in the bidding process and had a clear, well-defined plan to run PIA on professional and commercial lines.