Lt Gen (retd) Anwar Ali Hyder has been appointed as the first chairman of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited after management control of the national carrier was transferred to the Arif Habib Corporation-led consortium.

The appointment was announced following the first financial closing of the PIA privatization transaction, under which the investor consortium formally assumed management control of the airline.

Hyder, who also serves as managing director of Fauji Foundation, will head the board of the newly privatized airline as it moves forward with a transformation plan backed by fresh private investment.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that although the airline’s ownership structure had changed, its responsibility to the people of Pakistan remained the same.

He said the airline would seek to preserve its legacy while evolving into a modern and premium carrier focused on improving passenger experience, expanding its network and delivering operational excellence.

The appointment comes after completion of the first phase of the privatization process, under which the consortium made an initial payment to the government and injected fresh capital into PIACL.

Officials said the fresh investment would be used to strengthen the airline’s finances, modernize its fleet and support future expansion.