Supreme Court Lifts Stay on PIA Privatization, Closes Case

Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has lifted its stay on the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), thereby concluding the case. The bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the case concerning the privatization of the national airline.
During the proceedings, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that the government had started the process of privatizing PIA, but new recruitments had not taken place due to the privatization process. He further stated that the privatization commission was set to restart its work, and the restrictions on PIA’s flight operations had been lifted.
Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that the privatization process might yield a higher price this time. Justice Jamal Mandokhel questioned whether the government was violating the Supreme Court’s previous order by proceeding with privatization, given that the court had directed that the privatization be done in consultation with it.
The Additional Attorney General clarified that a petition had been filed to seek the court’s approval and ensure its involvement in the process. In response, Justice Jamal Mandokhel stated that the court had confidence in the government and allowed the privatization to proceed in a transparent manner.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench lifted the stay order on PIA’s privatization and closed the case.