ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has lifted its stay order on the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), allowing the government to proceed with the process.
A constitutional bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the case on Thursday, during which the Additional Attorney General (AAG) briefed the court on the status of the privatisation efforts. According to the AAG, the process had begun following earlier court orders permitting the airline to recruit new professionals. However, the hiring process was delayed due to the privatisation plan.
The AAG also noted that restrictions on PIA’s flight operations had been removed, enabling the airline to function without operational constraints.
Justice Aminuddin observed that resuming the privatisation process at this stage could help secure better financial outcomes for the airline.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, however, raised concerns about compliance with an earlier Supreme Court directive, which mandated transparency and court confidence in the privatisation process. The AAG assured the court that an application had been submitted to seek its approval and emphasized that the government was committed to conducting the process in good faith. Justice Mandokhail urged the government to ensure efficiency and integrity throughout the proceedings.
Following these assurances, the court disposed of the petition, formally withdrawing its previous order that had halted the privatisation process.
The federal government’s efforts to privatise PIA had earlier faced a deadlock when the sole bidder offered a significantly lower amount than anticipated, prompting a reassessment of the privatisation strategy.
