The PIA will be privatized on December 23. Ali Muhammad

According to Muhammad Ali, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Privatization, December 23 will mark a significant milestone in the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s flag carrier,

Arif Habib, Air Blue, and the Lucky Consortium will take part in the bidding process, the Advisor revealed in an official statement on Saturday night.

Fauji Fertilizer would not directly participate in the bidding, he explained, but it is anticipated that the company will eventually join a successful consortium.

Muhammad Ali stressed that Tuesday’s privatization of PIA, the biggest deal of its kind in decades, will be carried out in full openness.

He added that in order to guarantee accountability, the rules governing the privatization process have been tightened.

The federal government is now working on final preparations for the December 23, 2025, sale of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

The bidding process has been entered by a consortium made up of five significant business groupings, which is said to be Pakistan’s largest. Both Arif Habib Group and Karachi-based AKD Securities are part of the consortium and will take part in the auction.

The bidding for PIA will also include City School, Lake City, and Fatima Group from Punjab.

Seabury Aviation Consultants, an American aviation consulting organization, has been introduced to Pakistan for valuation purposes.

The company offers consulting services to airlines that together fly about 5,000 planes across the globe.

Leading Pakistani business groups’ involvement in the privatization process, according to insiders, represents a new basis of professionalism and accountability.

PIA currently has 34 aircraft operating on over 90 local and international routes. Comprehensive details about PIA’s 7,500+ employees—pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and ground staff—have been made public.

Records of Pakistan International Airlines employees stationed abroad as well as in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad were also supplied.

Furthermore, information about PIA’s daily earnings from both local and foreign routes has been provided. According to sources, former PIA employees’ records were also distributed, making it clear that the new management would not be responsible for pension obligations.