Pakistan’s National Airline Sold For Whopping Rs 135 Billion, Know Who Bought It

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 19:54 IST

Arif Habib consortium acquired 75 percent of Pakistan International Airlines for 135 billion rupees.

Pakistani investment firm Arif Habib acquired a 75% stake in PIA. (Reuters)

In a significant move towards the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), a consortium led by Pakistani investment firm Arif Habib acquired a 75% stake in the state-run carrier on Tuesday during a televised auction. This acquisition marks a step in the government’s long-overdue effort to address the financial crisis of the national airline.

The Arif Habib consortium submitted a winning bid of Rs 4,300 crore (which translates to PKR 13,500 crore) for the majority shareholding in PIA, which was once regarded as among the region’s top airlines but has suffered decades of financial losses and mismanagement.

At the bidding ceremony, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasised the transparency and competitiveness of the privatisation process.

The sale aligns with a long-standing demand from the International Monetary Fund, which has consistently urged Pakistan to privatise the airline as part of broader economic reforms associated with bailout programmes.

The auction comes two months after PIA resumed direct flights to Europe following a decision by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to lift a four-year ban imposed over safety concerns. The airline was banned in 2020, after 97 people were killed when a PIA aircraft crashed in Karachi.

Once a model airline, PIA has seen a decline over the years due to chronic overstaffing. The airline employs about 300 workers per aircraft across its 32-fleet, one of the highest employee-to-aircraft ratios in the industry. In contrast, most airlines operate with fewer than 200 employees per aircraft, a standard benchmark for productivity.

News world Pakistan’s National Airline Sold For Whopping Rs 135 Billion, Know Who Bought It

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