Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Stands Firm on Buying PIA, Punjab Government Retreats

Peshawar: A verbal clash has erupted between provincial governments regarding the privatization of the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is resolute in his commitment to purchase PIA, while Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari has clarified that her government has no intention of buying the airline.
Gandapur has stated that he is willing to go to great lengths to acquire PIA, emphasizing that if successful, the airline’s name will remain unchanged. He claimed that the reality is surfacing, alleging that the Sharif family intends to buy the airline at a bargain price, and highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s budget is currently in surplus.
“We have 100% revenue. On November 9, we will gather in Swabi to pass a resolution in a rally and announce our future course of action,” Gandapur declared.
Earlier, Azma Bukhari responded to Gandapur’s comments, stating that it was strange for a province burdened with debt to seek to purchase PIA, which operates planes, unlike other institutions that the province struggles to finance. She reaffirmed that the Punjab government has no plans to pursue the acquisition of PIA, clarifying that discussions around an airline named “Air Punjab” had emerged, but were separate from PIA.
Gandapur further noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa currently possesses only two helicopters, reinforcing his determination to proceed with the acquisition of PIA.