Karachi (Commerce Desk) The Competition Commission of Pakistan (Competition Commission of Pakistan) has formally approved the acquisition of Pakistan International Airlines by the Arif Habib Consortium, clearing an important step in the airline’s privatization process.
According to the commission, the first phase of the competitive review of the PIA privatization deal has been completed. It concluded that the agreement does not pose any risk of monopoly or reduced competition in the market.
The statement said that PIA’s market share has declined over time while competitive pressure in the aviation sector has remained intact.
The Competition Commission further noted that the privatization is expected to improve the airline’s performance and reduce the financial burden on the government.
However, it clarified that the approval is limited only to competition-related aspects, while all other legal and regulatory requirements will continue to apply.
