Pakistan has pre-qualified six companies to participate in the bidding process to acquire national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s Privatisation Minister announced on Monday. This selection follows an extension in the deadline for submitting expressions of interest, during which a total of eight companies and consortiums had expressed interest.
The six companies and consortiums that have been shortlisted are:
- Air Blue
- Arif Habib Corporation
- Blue World City
- Fly Jinnah
- Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Consortium
- YB Holdings Consortium
A statement from the office of Abdul Aleem Khan, the privatisation minister, confirmed these finalists. “The pre-qualified companies can take part in the bids for the PIA,” he said.
The government is offering a stake of between 51% and 100% in the loss-making airline, a move that is part of broader economic reforms encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
