KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is working to restore and expand its fleet, with plans to increase the number of aircraft to 60 as part of its long-term revival strategy, businessman Arif Habib said on Thursday.
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Speaking at a meeting of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Habib said PIA currently owns 30 aircraft, of which 18 are operational, while five to six are undergoing repairs and maintenance.
He added that efforts are underway to bring the grounded aircraft back into service, which would raise the active fleet to around 26 in the near term before eventual expansion to 60 aircraft.
Habib, who chairs the consortium involved in PIA’s revival efforts, said he represents the business community at the government level and regularly highlights industry concerns to policymakers.
Commenting on the broader economy, he said Pakistan has shown signs of stabilisation in the current fiscal year, with improvements in revenue collection, expenditure control and debt servicing. However, he stressed that reducing the cost of production remains critical for sustainable economic growth.
He pointed out that high electricity tariffs, driven by capacity charges, continue to burden businesses. According to him, better utilisation of the country’s transmission system — which exceeds 22,000 megawatts — could lower electricity prices by Rs10 to Rs12 per unit if consumption increases.
Habib also urged the business community to move beyond political divisions and present a unified stance to effectively engage with the government. He identified information technology, agriculture and mining as key sectors capable of driving economic growth.
Meanwhile, Hasan Bakhshi, chairperson of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), called for the formation of a business consortium to take over loss-making public sector institutions, including the Water Board, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Sindh Building Control Authority.
He said the private sector, as a key stakeholder, has the capability to manage these institutions more efficiently and improve their performance.
