Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori revealed that traders in Karachi have expressed interest in acquiring Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). In discussions with the governor, the traders proposed taking control of PIA for a year, with plans to launch a new airline.

Governor Tessori suggested naming the new airline “PK,” symbolizing both Pakistan and Karachi. He also welcomed the Punjab government’s potential initiative to launch an airline called “Air Punjab,” highlighting that the establishment of new airlines could generate job opportunities across the country.

This development follows the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s recent expression of interest in the PIA privatization process. The KP Investment Board has communicated its intention to submit a bid to Federal Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan.

In related news, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif revealed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had advised him to consider acquiring PIA and rebranding it as “Air Punjab.” Nawaz Sharif stated, “Maryam sought advice from me, asking if we should take over the PIA and make it a brand new airline.”

The final bidding process for PIA’s privatization recently concluded with only one bid of Rs10 billion ($36 million) for a 60% stake in the national carrier. Despite pre-qualifying six groups in June, only the real-estate development company Blue World City participated, submitting a bid below the government’s minimum price of Rs85 billion.