Out of six prequalified companies, only one (Blue World City) has formalized its interest in the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) by submitting earnest money ahead of the October 31 bidding date. According to a Bloomberg report, the other five consortiums have opted out of the final bidding process.
A spokesperson for the Privatization Ministry confirmed that only one bidder deposited earnest money with the Privatization Commission.
The Privatization Commission had prequalified six interested parties after thorough deliberations, considering technical, financial, and documentary requirements outlined in the request for statement of qualification (RSoQ). The prequalified parties included:
- Fly Jinnah Limited
- Air Blue Limited
- Arif Habib Corporation Limited
- Consortium Led by Y.B. Holdings (Private) Limited, comprising Pioneer Cement Limited, Artistic Milliners Limited, ANS Capital Private Limited, and Metro Ventures Private Limited
- Consortium Led by Pak Ethanol, comprising AirSial Limited, Serene Airlines Private Limited, and Liberty Daharki Power Limited
- Consortium Led by Blue World City, comprising Blue World Aviation and IRIS Communication Limited
With only one party showing formal interest, it remains uncertain whether the bidding process, scheduled for Thursday, will proceed with just a single bidder or face another delay. The situation raises questions about the future of PIA’s privatization efforts and the potential impact on the airline’s restructuring plans.
