New era as PIA passes into private hands

Arif Habib Consortium takes over national carrier

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday marked a historic milestone in its aviation journey as the national flag carrier officially transitioned to the new management under the PIA Equity Ltd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of the Arif Habib Consortium.

This takeover is the culmination of a rigorous privatisation process designed to breathe fresh life into the airline, said a statement issued here on Monday. "This defining moment signifies a bold step forward in modernising the national carrier and restoring its legacy of excellence on the global stage," it added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed this important milestone in the country's economic reform journey. "The successful First Financial Closing of the PIA privatisation transaction, and the transfer of management control to the investor consortium, marks the beginning of a new chapter for our national carrier," the prime minister wrote in a post on X.

"With a transformational investment to modernise and strengthen PIA, we are laying the foundation for its revival while reinforcing investor confidence in Pakistan," he said, adding: "We will continue to pursue bold reforms that strengthen our economy, create opportunities for our people, and secure a more prosperous future for Pakistan."

Shehbaz commended Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and paid special tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and his dedicated team, as well as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Privatisation Commission, and all those whose professionalism, commitment and tireless efforts made this landmark achievement possible.

The PIA Equity Ltd – an SPV of the winning consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation – has consolidated 100% private ownership of the airline, executing a comprehensive transaction valued at approximately Rs180 billion, according to the statement.

It said that the reins of the PIACL have been handed over to the consortium after completion of all the local and international regulatory approvals, including permissions from global lenders and specialised tax concessions.

Composed of Arif Habib Group, Fatima Fertilizer Company Ltd, Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd, Lake City Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, The City School (Pvt) Ltd and AKD Group Holdings, this strategic alliance represents an unprecedented alignment of industrial, financial, and institutional strength.

"This private equity model removes bureaucratic friction, paving the way for streamlined, agile corporate decision-making," the statement by the PIA Equity Ltd said.

"In a masterful structuring of the deal, Rs55 billion constitutes direct divestment proceeds to the Government of Pakistan, while a massive Rs125 billion is being injected directly into PIACL as fresh equity to aggressively fund operational restructuring, fleet renewal, route expansion and product improvement initiatives."

Speaking on the occasion of the handover, the chairman of the new ownership emphasised that while the corporate structure has evolved, the airline's fundamental responsibility to the people of Pakistan remains paramount.

"As the new ownership officially takes over today, we deeply understand that the trust of a nation isn't simply transferred on a document. Trust is earned—mile by mile, smile by smile, year by year. We know this. And we accept the challenge wholeheartedly." he continued.

"As the airline enters this promising chapter under the new banner, the underlying promise to our passengers stays resolute. PIA will continue to honor its deep-rooted heritage while building a premium, modern aviation experience," he added.

"The journey ahead is a collective commitment to excellence, proving once again why we are, and always will be, 'Great People to Fly With'."

With the legacy liabilities managed and operating rights seamlessly transferred, the incoming management consortium is fully capitalised and prepared to elevate PIA's service standards to compete with international benchmarks.