Govt to Invite Bids for PIA Sale Starting Tomorrow

The federal government will invite expressions of interest for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on April 24, Privatization Commission sources informed ProPakistani. Both local and foreign investors will be given at least one month to submit their interest in acquiring between 51 percent and 100 percent of the airline’s shares. Officials from the Privatization Commission stated that employee rights, staffing structures, and service protections will be ensured during the privatization process. A clean PIA model is being adopted, with the government already absorbing the airline’s debt to make the offer more attractive to potential buyers. Asset valuation and financial review of PIA will be finalized by July, while application scrutiny is expected to conclude by September 2025. The entire privatization process is scheduled for completion by December 2025. Sources added that the government will tighten pre-qualification criteria to ensure only serious and financially sound investors move forward. Companies must meet multi-year revenue benchmarks to qualify. The resumption of flights to Europe has increased investor interest, with expected participation from firms in the Gulf and Turkish Airlines. The federal cabinet has formally approved the re-privatization on the Privatization Commission’s recommendation.