PIA to resume UK flights after Eidul Fitr
Surprisingly, the report mentions that the government privatised seven loss-making SOEs in January 2025. While the case of the privatisation of PIA is no mystery to anyone, it is clear that the current government has not completed any privatisation transaction. photo: file
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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume flights to the United Kingdom after Eidul Fitr, said Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Dr. Muhammad Faisal.
Speaking at an iftar dinner in London, attended by journalists, social media influencers, and distinguished guests, Dr. Faisal announced that PIA will initially restore flights from London and Manchester to Pakistan. He also expressed efforts to restart services from Birmingham in the near future.
The High Commissioner emphasized that the resumption of flights will be marked by a formal opening ceremony, with media representatives invited to cover the event.
He clarified that the reinstatement of flights is independent of any operational concerns related to aircraft landings. The move comes as Pakistan aims to strengthen its aviation ties with the UK, following a prolonged suspension of direct flights.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) restarted its European operations on January 10, 2025, with its first flight to Paris, following a four-and-a-half-year ban imposed by the European Union.
The EU had suspended PIA's flight operations in June 2020 after a tragic plane crash in Karachi. The situation worsened when the then-Aviation Minister disclosed in Parliament that several pilots had been hired with fake licenses, raising serious safety concerns.
Following extensive regulatory improvements and safety compliance measures, the EU lifted the ban, allowing PIA to resume its services to European destinations.
Moreover, the government has assured the International Monetary Fund of selling the Pakistan International Airlines by July, but the future of Roosevelt Hotel in New York has yet to be decided amidst the US decision to terminate the $228 million worth lease deal prematurely.
The Privatisation Ministry also briefed the IMF about the status of the PIA privatisation and gave a July 2025 deadline to sell the loss-making entity, said the sources.
The government's earlier attempt to privatise PIA had badly failed after its weak scrutiny process ended up at selecting a real estate developer as the sole bidder. The sole bidder had given Rs10 billion offer, which was many times lower than the minimum ask price of Rs85 billion.
The sources said that the IMF was informed that the government was in the process of gauging the market sentiment before issuing the Expression of Interest for inviting the investors by the end of this month.
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