Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the FPCCI, extended congratulations to Arif Habib Group as the successful bidder in the PIA privatization process, calling the completion of the first phase a transparent and swift achievement. He noted that all companies that participated in the bidding displayed strong credentials and reliable reputations.
Mr. Sheikh praised the government for carrying out the first stage of PIA privatization efficiently and singled out Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s personal efforts as instrumental in reaching this milestone for the national carrier. He said the business community’s trust in the process will yield positive and far-reaching outcomes for Pakistan’s economy.
Highlighting the financial strain on state-owned enterprises, the FPCCI president warned that Pakistan continues to face losses amounting to billions of rupees each year due to loss-making public entities. He urged timely privatization to relieve the fiscal burden and improve performance across the public sector.
On the energy front, Mr. Sheikh stressed that comprehensive reforms are needed and argued that privatization of power distribution companies is a necessary step to achieve meaningful progress. He expressed hope that, following the PIA privatization, the government will also make prompt arrangements for the sale of distribution companies to attract private investment and boost efficiency.
The FPCCI leader’s comments reflect a broader call for decisive policy action: complete the ongoing PIA privatization successfully and proceed without delay to restructure and privatize other loss-making state enterprises to stabilize public finances and encourage private sector participation.
