Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, overseeing aviation, attributed public sector decline to bureaucracy while noting politicians often take the blame. “Those who ruined institutions will face accountability,” he declared, following Arif Habib Corporation-led consortium’s Rs135 billion winning bid for 75% PIA stake in Pakistan’s first major privatisation in 20 years—driven by IMF reforms.
In the auction, Arif Habib topped Lucky Cement’s Rs134 billion after rounds above the Rs100 billion reserve; Airblue quit at Rs26.5 billion. Of proceeds, 92.5% reinvests in PIA, with Rs10.12 billion to government; 25% stake retained. Asif faulted ex-PTI aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s 2020 fake pilots claim for global restrictions that nearly shuttered the airline. “Privatisation will revive services; loss-making entities like Discos follow.”
PTI Talks Outlook
On PTI dialogue, Asif said PM Shehbaz’s repeated invitations face preconditions: “If PTI sorts itself, talks advance.” PM Adviser Rana Sanaullah echoed doubts, stressing negotiation drives democracy but PTI founder Imran Khan rejects it for chaos: “No one else holds authority; he ignored past overtures.” This follows Shehbaz’s stance against “blackmail disguised as dialogue,” after Imran dismissed Achakzai’s call and ordered KP CM Sohail Afridi for street protests.
