Pakistan's poll body halts privatisation of national airline PIA

Pakistan’s election commission has halted the government’s plan to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to a report by Dawn, the country’s poll body sent a letter to the cabinet secretary, reminding the caretaker government of its limitations. It also sought all relevant documentation on the privatisation of PIA. The panel has also asked the government to “refrain from taking any further steps including the signing of an agreement” about the privatisation of the PIA or its entities. Last year, the cash-strapped nation decided to overhaul all of its loss-making state-owned enterprises under a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $3 billion bailout. The decision to privatise PIA was taken just weeks after the government signed the deal with IMF.

The caretaker administration, which took office in August to oversee the Feb. 8 election, was empowered by the outgoing parliament to take any steps needed to meet the budgetary targets agreed with the IMF. Previously, Pakistan’s Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad told Reuters, “Our job is 98% done. The remaining 2% is just to bring it on an Excel sheet after the cabinet approves it.” With inputs from Reuters