Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari clarified on Monday that the Punjab government has no plans to purchase Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). While the idea of launching a separate airline for Punjab was discussed, acquiring the national flag carrier is not being considered.

Minister Bokhari emphasized the need for a reliable airline in Pakistan, noting that overseas Pakistanis have raised concerns with Mian Nawaz Sharif about the issues they face when traveling with PIA. She stated, “The provinces have the right to start their own airlines.”

Addressing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interest in purchasing PIA, Bokhari expressed skepticism, remarking that it was unusual for “a debt-stressed provincial government” to consider such a move. She suggested that the KP government should prioritize clearing its existing debts before pursuing the acquisition of PIA.

Meanwhile, traders in Karachi have also shown interest in PIA, joining the ongoing discussions about the airline’s future.

The Information Minister praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for initiating several development projects while maintaining fiscal discipline in the province. Earlier reports indicated that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, had expressed interest in either acquiring PIA or establishing a new provincial airline, tentatively named “Air Punjab.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif confirmed that his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, had sought his advice on whether the provincial government should pursue the acquisition of PIA or launch a new airline.