Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that all stages for the privatization of the Pakistan International Airlines be completed swiftly and transparently. He gave these directions while chairing a meeting pertaining to affairs of PIA in Islamabad today.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister directed the authorities to devise a plan to increase the number of airworthy aircraft in PIA’s fleet. He further instructed measures to ensure the timely departure of PIA flights.

The meeting received a detailed briefing on PIA’s privatization and a business plan in this regard. It was told that four parties have been pre-qualified for the privatization of the national airlines and bidding will soon be held.

The meeting was further apprised that 75 percent of shares of PIA will be privatized with a condition that the name and the theme of the national flag carrier will not be changed after the privatization.

Regarding the business plan, the meeting was informed that the number of airworthy planes in PIA’s fleet will be increased from 18 to 38.

It was noted that, at present, the national flag carrier operates in thirty cities, and this network will be expanded to more than forty cities by 2029 under the plan.