Punjab Information Minister Denies Interest in PIA Purchase, Counters Nawaz Sharif’s Claims

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s claim that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz intends to acquire Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and rebrand it as “Air Punjab.”

This statement comes after a recent unsuccessful attempt to sell PIA, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government expressing interest in the national carrier.

On November 2, Nawaz Sharif told party supporters in New York that Maryam suggested purchasing PIA and naming it “Air Punjab” to transform it into a top global airline.

Speaking to reporters in Lahore today, Bokhari clarified, “The Punjab government has no plans to buy PIA. The claim is entirely untrue.” She explained that Nawaz was speaking to PML-N business people in the U.S. who expressed frustration over the lack of direct flights to Pakistan, highlighting PIA’s current challenges.

Pakistan’s government is considering privatizing 51% and 100% of PIA to generate funds and restructure state-owned enterprises as part of a $7 billion IMF program.

Initially, the government aimed to sell PIA by June, but the sale was postponed to October. Six groups were prequalified to bid; however, only Blue World City, a real estate developer, participated in the bidding last week, offering Rs10 billion for a 60% stake—far below the government’s minimum price of Rs85 billion.