ISLAMABAD: The privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expected to take place in the last week of December 2025, according to sources familiar with the process.
Read More: PIA privatisation delayed again, expected in late December
The first bid for PIA’s privatisation was placed at Rs 10 billion, but officials deemed it too low. Due to the undervalued offer, the national carrier will be put up for auction again. The Privatisation Commission has not yet announced a final date for the process.
PIA earned a pre-tax profit of Rs 11.5 billion during the first six months of the current financial year. The airline continues to operate both domestic and international flights with a fleet of 16 active aircraft. Its destinations include Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several other countries.
The privatisation of PIA should have signalled intent to reform, and interest in an economy turned around.
The complete lack of international interest, and the continuous delay upon delay with the local parties interested shows how little interest there is in investing in hybrid… pic.twitter.com/pY24I3s3LB
— Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) November 27, 2025
Last year, the airline generated a total profit of Rs 26.2 billion. Officials believe that if PIA resolves the shortage of operational aircraft, it could earn an additional Rs 2–3 billion compared to the previous year.
Currently, PIA has a total fleet of 32 aircraft, but 16 remain grounded due to engine issues and unavailability of spare parts. Sources claim that if more aircraft are made operational and fleet shortages addressed, the need for privatisation may not arise at all.
Read More: PM orders fast-track, transparent PIA privatisation
Despite these challenges, the government appears committed to the privatisation process, seeing it as a potential way to enhance operational efficiency and financial sustainability of the national carrier. The auction is expected to attract interest from both domestic and international investors, although the final price and bidder details remain under wraps.