Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said efforts are underway to revive Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), including restoring his New York flight, as part of wider plans to privatize the national carrier and rebuild its reputation.
He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership for what he called a “historic milestone” and announced that the airline would soon be offered private bidders as a fully functional and valuable asset.
Earlier today, Britain removed Pakistan from its air safety list and cleared the way for Pakistani Airlines to apply for flight operations to the country.
“We end all important processes first to increase the airline’s market value,” he said, adding that the government had closely followed the guidance of aviation regulators to facilitate future approvals.
Asif confirmed that, once privatized, Pia would be equipped with new aircraft and get fresh international routes.
“Overseas Pakistanis will be able to get home easier,” he said. “Both time and cost of travel are reduced.”
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally monitored the resuscitation process and received regular updates.
“Many friends and colleagues worked hard to make this possible,” said Defense Minister, “Today marks a historic and memorable day.”
Read: UK Removes Pakistan from the Air Safety List
The Minister noted that Pia once transported the bodies of the deceased Pakistanis for free, a service that has now been lost. “Now families have to spend thousands of dollars,” he said. “It was a shock to the Pakistani Diaspora. Many have now bought burial grounds abroad.”
Asif placed the blame for Pia’s decline on the previous Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) government. “A ban on us was imposed during their tenure,” he said. “Ghulam Sarwar criticized his own department and effectively invited international bodies to impose airline on Pakistan’s airline.”
“Today he has not offered any explanation for his comments,” Asif said. “Imran Khan is also responsible for this result.”
He said the ban caused financial losses worth billions of rupees, but more devastating was the battle of national dignity. “Our trained staff had helped establish other airlines in the region,” he noted. “An individual deleted all the hard -earned reputation. What was his reason? It’s still a troubled question.”
Asif said the question was now resolved and confirmed that Airblue had also been allowed to operate internationally. He praised Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and said the European Union had regained confidence in the body.
He also paid tribute to Khawaja Saad Rafique for his contributions to aviation reform in the last two to three years. “Today we are justified,” he concluded.
