PIA Privatisation Bill Signed — A New Era for Pakistan’s Airline

PIA – (Web Desk) – President Asif Ali Zardari signed the PIA privatisation bill into law on Friday, clearing the last legal hurdle for the sale of Pakistan’s national airline. This moment marks the end of a long and difficult chapter for PIA.

The bill was passed by the Senate on June 10 and by the National Assembly on June 11, 2026. With the presidential signature, all legal requirements are now fully complete.

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے پاکستان انٹرنیشنل ایئرلائنز کارپوریشن (کنورژن) (ریپیل) بل، 2026 کی منظوری دے دی۔

بل کی منظوری کے بعد پاکستان انٹرنیشنل ایئرلائنز کمپنی لمیٹڈ (PIACL) کی نجکاری کے عمل کی تکمیل کے لیے درکار قانونی تقاضے پورے ہو گئے ہیں۔

یہ بل سینیٹ سے 10 جون 2026 کو…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 12, 2026

A consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation had already acquired a 75% stake in PIA back in December 2025. They offered Rs135 billion, making it Pakistan’s biggest privatisation deal in nearly two decades.

Fauji Fertiliser Company joined the buying consortium in March 2026, after the Privatisation Commission gave its approval. This added more financial strength to the group taking over the airline.

Most of the money from the deal — 92.5% — will go directly into PIA itself, not into the government treasury. Only 7.5%, around Rs10.12 billion, will be transferred to the federal government.

Before the sale, PIA was losing around Rs50 billion every single year. The privatisation is a key part of Pakistan’s reform agenda under its $7 billion IMF programme.

The government is holding on to the remaining 25% stake for now. The new owners will have the option to buy it later, or the state can keep it as a long-term asset.