Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that bids for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be received starting from October 1, 2024.
He made this statement during an address to the Pakistani community in London on Saturday, where he also highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Dar raised the issue of the resumption of PIA flights to the UK with his British counterparts, stressing the importance of restoring the national airline’s operations to Europe.
He further elaborated on ongoing government efforts to meet the standards set by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to enable the resumption of flights. According to Dar, "The government is taking vital steps to ensure that PIA stands on its feet again."
During his speech, Dar noted that irresponsible remarks made by a former PTI minister had led to the grounding of all Pakistani planes in Europe, Britain, and other Western regions.
He assured the community that the government is not only focused on privatising PIA but is also outsourcing operations at Islamabad International Airport to improve efficiency.
The deputy premier also revealed that he has extended an invitation to David Lims, a senior British official, to visit Pakistan. Lims has reportedly accepted the invitation and plans to visit with other colleagues shortly.
Highlighting the strong relations between Pakistan and the UK, Dar expressed pride in the contributions of the 1.7 million Pakistanis living in Britain. He referred to the British Pakistani community as a vital link in maintaining the "cordial and historic" relationship between the two nations.
Referring to the broader political and economic landscape, Dar said Pakistan will continue to advocate on global issues such as Gaza, Kashmir, and Islamophobia. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to raising its voice against Islamophobia on every international platform.
"Pakistan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years. We have a clear stance on Palestine, and the Israeli bombing of Gaza must stop," he said, adding that Pakistan has sent multiple aid shipments to Gaza and is committed to supporting Palestinian medical students in completing their education.
Dar also touched on the critical issue of Kashmir, saying that Pakistan's government has discussed the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir with British officials, reiterating that the country’s stance remains firm.
Reflecting on the economic challenges Pakistan faced in 2013, Dar stated that international financial institutions had labelled Pakistan's economy as unstable, with fears of default within six months. However, within 18 months of the PML-N government taking office, the economy showed signs of recovery, with food inflation dropping to 2%, and GDP growth hitting 6%, making Pakistan the best-performing stock market in Asia and the fifth-best globally by 2017.
However, Dar expressed concern over the economic decline that followed the 2018 general elections, which saw Pakistan drop to the 47th position in the global economic rankings by 2022. He attributed this to the policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Looking back at the challenges faced in 2013, including extremism, economic instability, and electricity shortages, Dar lauded the PML-N's achievements in tackling these issues through "wise policies and diligent efforts." He expressed disappointment over the shift in policy under the PTI government, which he claimed has led to violence and economic mismanagement.
In conclusion, Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving Pakistan's economic and diplomatic standing while ensuring the welfare of overseas Pakistanis.
