Tribune Take: Privatise the PIA, save billions

The $600,000 PIA failed to pay Iran for airspace rights is symptomatic of larger issues. Watch now.

In today’s episode of the Tribune Take we take a look at the latest trouble to hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which confirmed on Tuesday that Iran has shut its airspace to Pakistani air crafts due to a six-month backlog in transit payments.

Farooq Tirimizi, the head of Business reporting at The Express Tribune, explains that the $600,000 PIA failed to pay Iran is symptomatic of larger problems faced by the national carrier.

He emphasises the need for privatisation of PIA because yearly bailouts of such state-run institutions cost the country billions.

Watch today’s episode here, or click the video thumbnail in the right hand column.

The Tribune Take daily news web show will appear on the tribune.com.pk home page.

The Take will feature in-depth interviews and analysis with editors and reporters who are covering the major stories, exploring front page events and major ledes. The news analysis covers the way The Express Tribune examines a story, how we cover it and why.