PIA to Restore Flights Directly to US This Year: Privatization Secretary

The Senate Standing Committee on Privatization was informed on Friday that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expected to resume and expand its international operations, including a likely reopening of routes to the United States within the current year.

Briefing the committee, the Secretary of the Privatization Commission said that new international routes are being planned, following recent improvements in operations to the United Kingdom and Europe. He described the expected restoration of the US route as “good news” for passengers traveling to North America.

The committee was further told that the federal government expects to generate total proceeds of Rs. 55 billion from the privatization of PIA. The secretary noted that, in the past, the government had been providing annual bailout packages of Rs. 50–60 billion to keep the national flag carrier operational.

He said the privatization process would help eliminate recurring losses caused by political appointments and operational inefficiencies, adding that the government would no longer have to bear the financial burden of PIA on a yearly basis.

The committee was also informed that PIA’s assets have not been sold as part of the privatization process. Instead, the airline’s liabilities have been addressed to ease the financial strain on the national exchequer.

According to the briefing, the government retains ownership of key PIA properties, including assets in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, and the Scribe Hotel in France.