KP unable to pay salaries but wants to buy PIA: Azma

LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has criticised the KP government, saying that although it lacks funds to pay employee salaries, it still dreams of buying PIA.

She said the Punjab government is set to present a surplus budget of Rs630 billion in 2025. “It’s a joke to think that Maryam Nawaz is following Gandapur,” she said.

She clarified that Mian Nawaz Sharif had never suggested that the Punjab government was planning to purchase PIA, saying that all Pakistanis wanted to see the national airline improve. She welcomed the potential interest from Karachi investors in PIA, calling it a positive development.

Azma also remarked that KP requires urgent jail reforms, as prisoners there can escape easily. She expressed these views during a press conference at the DGPR on Monday

She said that a news story published Sunday claimed that all provinces, except Punjab, are financially stable, which she dismissed as inaccurate. She reiterated that Punjab’s 2025 budget is expected to show a surplus of Rs630 billion. Additionally, she said that Punjab has cleared all its wheat loans dating back to 1952, freeing it from a 56% markup burden.

The Punjab government has invested Rs200 billion in treasury bills, she said, explaining that if this amount were included in the budget, the misleading news would not have arisen. She accused the PTI of using such reports for political point-scoring.

Azma praised Maryam Nawaz for introducing impactful projects in Punjab, mentioning that high-quality hospitals are being built and the country’s first public cancer hospital is under development.

She challenged the “Fitna Party” to share details of any hospitals Gandapur has built in KP, adding, “Gandapur’s actions are something no woman, or even a reasonable person, would endorse.”

Expressing concern over Bushra Bibi’s reported tears in court, Azma remarked, “When Maryam Nawaz was in custody, she never shed a tear.” She suggested that it would have been more appropriate for Bushra Bibi to apologise for the false cases filed against Mian Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Rana Sanaullah.

“No matter the drama, they will eventually have to provide receipts,” she said, calling Bushra Bibi’s public appearance a well-timed media stunt. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has formally expressed interest in acquiring Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), signaling a commitment to retain the airline’s public ownership and identity.

The KP Board of Investment and Trade submitted a letter on November 1 to the Ministry of Privatisation, with Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan named as the addressee, outlining the province’s intent to participate in the upcoming bidding process.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, speaking to the media on Monday emphasized that KP would “go to any extent” to secure the national airline. “We will go to any extent in the bidding,” he affirmed, adding that the KP government intends to keep PIA’s name unchanged as a symbol of national pride and unity.

Gandapur said that expatriates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had pledged financial support for this endeavor, showing a strong community backing for the acquisition of PIA as a provincial asset.

The chief minister voiced concern over what he described as a trend of selling off national resources without constitutional grounds, asserting, “There is no constitution or law that allows the federal government to sell all state resources. We will not let them do so.”

He underscored KP’s position that PIA should remain under government ownership to avoid potential impacts on national interests, declaring that the KP government would not allow any other party to acquire the airline.

The federal government has identified PIA, burdened with over Rs200 billion in debt, as a priority for privatization, hoping to mitigate its financial losses and improve operational efficiencies.

As part of its privatization agenda, the federal government is considering bids from both public and private entities, including KP’s proposal to maintain the airline’s identity and role as a public institution.

KP’s interest in PIA also reflects a broader trend among provinces toward more active involvement in the aviation sector. Recently, the Punjab government announced plans to establish “Punjab Air” to meet regional travel demands. However, KP’s bid for PIA extends beyond regional aspirations, positioning the province as a potential steward of the airline’s legacy on a national scale.