LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari announced on Monday that the Punjab government has no plans to purchase Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Bokhari clarified that while there had been discussions about launching a separate airline for Punjab, acquiring the national flag carrier was not under consideration.
“Pakistan needs a reliable airline,” she remarked, adding that overseas Pakistanis have expressed concerns to Mian Nawaz Sharif regarding issues faced when traveling with PIA. “The provinces have the right to establish their own airlines,” she noted.
Commenting on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interest in purchasing PIA, Bokhari questioned the feasibility of a “debt-ridden provincial government” considering such a move. “The KP government should settle its debts before showing interest in acquiring PIA,” she added.
The minister also praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for initiating numerous development projects while keeping provincial spending in check.
