Minister for Defence, Defence Production, and Aviation Khawaja Asif said in the National Assembly that the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to be finalized by the end of October.

Addressing a calling attention notice concerning the extended closure of Hyderabad airport for commercial flights, Asif stated that reopening PIA flights on this route is not financially feasible. He highlighted that PIA is currently burdened with a debt of Rs. 800 billion, making it impractical to operate routes that are not financially viable.

In response to another inquiry, the minister clarified that the government has no objection to a private airline operating from Hyderabad airport, indicating openness to private sector involvement in reviving services at the location.