Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revealed that his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, encouraged him to consider purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and rebranding it as “Air Punjab.” Nawaz shared during a gathering with party supporters in New York that Maryam suggested they acquire the airline and elevate it to a top-tier global carrier.
Nawaz recounted advising Maryam that she could start a new airline that would serve major international destinations. He mentioned that discussions around the idea have already taken place, adding that “Air Punjab” could potentially operate flights from cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi to places worldwide, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.
Read more: The PIA Privatization Journey: A Complete Guide to Its Process
Reflecting on PIA’s struggles, Nawaz expressed his disappointment in how the airline declined under former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration. He criticized then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar for publicly questioning PIA pilots’ licenses, a statement Nawaz believes significantly harmed the airline’s reputation. This development follows the KP government’s recent expression of interest in bidding for PIA, which recently attracted only a low bid from a single consortium, prompting the Privatisation Commission to reopen the bidding process.
