PIA Auction Postponed Once Again as Bidders Request More Clarity

The Pakistan government has delayed the auction of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the third time, leaving potential buyers waiting for crucial information. No new date has been set for the sale, according to a statement from the Privatization Ministry on Friday.

Initially planned for August 14 to coincide with the country’s Independence Day, the auction has now been postponed multiple times. The decision follows requests from bidders who are seeking more time to review PIA’s latest audited financials, aircraft leasing agreements, and to clarify the status of PIA’s flights to Europe, which are currently suspended.

In June, six companies were shortlisted from a pool of eight to participate in the bidding process. The sale of more than 51% of the airline’s stake is part of the government’s broader economic reforms advised by the IMF, which recently approved a 37-month $7 billion bailout package for Pakistan.

Dr. Ahsan Ishaq, a spokesperson for the Privatization Ministry, confirmed the postponement: “While there has been no official reason provided for the delay, bidders have consistently asked for additional time and information to assess the airline.” Despite the repeated delays, there has been no official announcement of when the auction might be rescheduled.