Investors from UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye Show Interest in PIA Privatization Process

[Abbas Ali]

On March 26, Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Muhammed Asif presided over a meeting on privatization of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) at the Ministry of Aviation in Islamabad.


PTV News

Secretary Privatization commission Usman Akhtar Bajwa updated the minister about the marketing plan and preliminary engagement with international investors including UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on privatization transaction of PIACL.

Federal Minister directed to visit these countries to have active engagement with potential investors and bring the most interested groups in Pakistan. The minister also assured government to government level engagements for speeding up the transaction.

Press Release

[b78709]

Please stay away from the shaikhs

[London Flyer]

So called ‘Interest’ from investors means nothing. It’s so often used to try and show progress but it’s completely intangible. Have heard it a million times. Once you’ve secured investors and can complete the deal, that’s probably the time for the press release.

[b78709]

Any tie-up with any of the GCC airlines group will be to the net disadvantage of PIA & Pakistan. PIA network will shrink further and PIA will only be a ticketing agent for that Arab airline.

We should have learned from PTCL & KESC experiences with Arabs owned. There is net outflow of capital and even the agreed payments have not materialized.

[Karachi Aviator]

I can imagine PIA being sold to a ME airline which ends up taking all of PIA's slots at foreign airports for itself and restricts PIA to PK-ME sector

[baberblues]

I can imagine PIA being sold to a ME airline which ends up taking all of PIA's slots at foreign airports for itself and restricts PIA to PK-ME sector

It will be lucrative to obtain both the London Heathrow slots and the Toronto slots. Maybe even the dubai slots too.

Secondly, I know that recently heathrow has been pushing hard for PIA to lose its slots.

[b78709]

I can imagine PIA being sold to a ME airline which ends up taking all of PIA's slots at foreign airports for itself and restricts PIA to PK-ME sector

It will be lucrative to obtain both the London Heathrow slots and the Toronto slots. Maybe even the dubai slots too.

Secondly, I know that recently heathrow has been pushing hard for PIA to lose its slots.

Yes, the Arabs will be after every PIA asset both inside and outside Pakistan. Whereas, Turks will like to feed ME & Pakistan traffic to their Singapore hub.

[Amaad Lone]

The government wants to retain 49% shares of the airline, and use the 51% sale proceeds to reinvest in the airline and ask the new investor to match that amount.

Its not the government business to run airlines, specially when the government is full of incompetent idiots.

PIA needs new long haul fleet which means billions of dollars in investment, and they should not be linked to the government any longer.

What about the properties of PIA in Pakistan, are those going to be included in the sale, or will the holding company retain them??

PIA fleet (mostly leased) landing slots, engineering, catering, spares, is that being evaluated for sale??

Government needs to wash its hands from the airline and let the new owners (hopefully foreigners) to run it.

Also the employees are usually an asset for a company, and rather then randomly retiring the people to reduce the numbers, it might be a good idea to retire employees YOU DO NOT NEED.

[Hassan777]

I doubt the government would let go of its share at the least they may hold atleast 10% shares so all the benefits of air passage given to officials remain. Even the richest at the top do not let freebies go.