ISLAMABAD: After having formally conveyed its willingness to the federal government to buy PIA, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has written another letter to Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan to participate in the sell-off bid of national airlines PIA.
It emerged that KP Board of Investment and Trade Vice Chairman Hassan Masood Kunwar had written a letter to the privatisation minister. The letter mentioned that the board was now seeking an update on the matter.
“Given the strategic importance of the process and the strong support for this initiative from the chief minister and the investment board, we kindly seek an update on the status of KP-BOIT proposal,” the letter said.
It was mentioned in the letter that the KP government was fully committed to revitalise the once prosperous image of the PIA.
It said that KP-BOIT would appreciate any indication of when it might expect to discuss this matter further.
“The province’s trade and investment body remains ready to engage at your earliest convenience, prepared to elaborate on our strategic vision and our readiness to present a competitive and compelling bid that reflects our commitment to Pakistan’s aviation sector and the fact that the KP is one of the stakeholders in PIA, being part of the federation,” the letter added.Earlier, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said on Monday that the Punjab government had no plans to buy the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
She said the matter of launching a separate airline for Punjab was discussed but buying the national flag carrier wasn’t on the table.
“Pakistan needs a good airline. The overseas Pakistanis complain Mian Nawaz Sharif about the problems faced by them by travelling through the PIA. The provinces have the right to start their own airlines,” she added.
Speaking about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interest in purchasing the PIA, the Information Minister wondered that it was strange that “a debt-stressed provincial government” was talking about purchasing the PIA.
“The KP government should clear other debts before showing interest in buying the PIA”, she added.
The Information Minister lauded Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for starting several development projects despite keeping the expenditure of the province under control. –Agencies
