Pakistan set to privatise national airline PIA

Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday gave the go ahead for 26 per cent privatisation of ailing national carrier PIA to boost the quality of the airline. 

The decision came a day after Sharif chaired a special cabinet meeting which also focused on the loss-making Pakistan International Airlines. 

Earlier this week, PIA had announced it would reduce its flights to and from India by over 60 per cent due to low passenger traffic and shortage of aircraft. 

Sharif ‘has directed the ministry of privatisation and civil aviation division to initiate the process of privatisation of PIA while ensuring complete transparency, adherence of all relevant codal formalities and guidelines of the superior courts,’ an official statement said. 

Such a move would benefit people through qualitatively better service and boost the image of the national carrier both nationally and internationally, it added.