'Air Punjab': CM Maryam urges Nawaz Sharif to buy PIA

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif revealed that his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who is also the Chief Minister of Punjab, has suggested purchasing the financially struggling Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and rebranding it as "Air Punjab."

Speaking to party supporters in New York, Nawaz Sharif said that Maryam proposed the idea of acquiring PIA to transform it into a leading airline.

"Maryam proposed that we [PML-N] should buy PIA and name it 'Air Punjab' after making it the best airline."

Nawaz said that he further encouraged her to explore the possibility of starting a new airline that could serve international destinations.

He elaborated on his vision for "Air Punjab," suggesting it should operate flights from Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi to major cities around the world, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. "I believe discussions have taken place regarding this matter," he added.

During the discussion, Nawaz expressed his dismay at the decline of PIA, attributing part of its troubles to comments made by former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan during Imran Khan's tenure.

Nawaz criticized the statement regarding PIA pilots lacking proper licenses, saying, "Can you imagine the damage caused? That was not true to start with, but even if it was, should such a thing have been said publicly?"

The statement comes on the heels of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's announcement of its interest in acquiring PIA, with a bid exceeding Rs10 billion.

The provincial government has formally expressed its desire to participate in the privatisation process following a recent bidding round that attracted only minimal interest.

The Privatisation Commission had previously deemed six bidders eligible for the process but noted that five had withdrawn.

The commission is now looking to conduct a new round of bidding for PIA, which has been facing significant financial challenges, in an effort to offload a 51-100% stake to raise funds as part of a broader strategy aligned with a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.