Pakistan's Punjab Govt shows bidding interest in PIA, considers launching 'Air Punjab'
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has also expressed interest in either purchasing the national carrier or establishing a new provincial airline, tentatively named "Air Punjab."
On Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif confirmed that his daughter and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had sought his advice on whether the provincial government should pursue the acquisition of PIA or launch a new airline, Dawn reported.
«Maryam proposed that the Punjab government launch a new airline, Air Punjab, and I advised her to proceed with further consultations on the potential acquisition of the PIA,» Sharif shared from New York.
Outlining her vision, Maryam Nawaz suggested that a new airline could serve major domestic and international routes, offering direct flights from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta to destinations like New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Nawaz Sharif added, «We could introduce a new airline that would offer direct flights… to New York, along with services to London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and other international destinations.» He noted that the idea was still under consideration, with the possibility of rebranding PIA under provincial management as «Air Punjab.»
The proposal comes amidst ongoing discussions about PIA's future as a privatised entity. The PML-N leader commented on the current bid for the airline, valued at PKR 10 billion, while reflecting on the airline's decline. «It is disheartening
