ISLAMABAD – The coalition allies strongly criticized the current government over the failure of the first attempt to privatize the national airline.
Sources said that the government is confident about succeeding in its second attempt at privatization.
However, the allies expressed severe criticism of the failure of the initial effort.
Meanwhile, the European Aviation Agency has issued a permit to the national airline, with the first flight scheduled to Paris.
In the National Assembly, PPP leader Naveed Qamar stated that the failure of the privatization process reflects the administration’s incompetence. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig added that the attempt was unprofessional and carried out in haste.
PPP leader Nabeel Gabol remarked, “The bid offered was so low that even a license for the Karachi-Islamabad bus service wouldn’t cost this much,”.
In response, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said that European and other routes have now been restored, and a privatization committee has been formed, which is expected to attract better offers.
The federal minister further revealed that the government had anticipated earning Rs85 billion from the first privatization attempt but received bids of only Rs10 billion.
