Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed an inquiry into a controversial advertisement released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to promote the resumption of flights to Paris.
The development was disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar during a Senate session on Tuesday, responding to a calling-attention notice by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman.
Senator Rehman criticized the advertisement, featuring a PIA plane near the Eiffel Tower with the tagline "We’re Coming." She argued that the ad raised serious security concerns and misrepresented the airline’s intentions, leading to public ridicule.
“Who approved this advertisement, and why could it go live without thorough scrutiny?” Senator Rehman questioned. She also expressed concern over the airline's operational status, noting that only 19 of its 34 aircraft are currently functional.
In response, Senator Dar assured the house that the Prime Minister had noticed the matter and ordered an independent inquiry into the advertisement's creation and approval process.
Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to privatizing PIA, emphasizing that the process would be conducted transparently. He revealed that 22 aircraft, including six Boeings, 11 Airbuses, and five ATRs, are operational, while six Boeings and five Airbuses are undergoing repairs.
The Deputy Prime Minister also expressed optimism about resuming PIA flights to the United Kingdom by March or April, stating that a UK team is expected to visit Pakistan by the end of January for a physical assessment.
Reflecting on past controversies, Dar referred to remarks made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who had claimed that PIA pilots held fake licenses.
The statement, Dar noted, had led to bans on PIA flights in Europe, the UK, and the US, resulting in an annual loss of Rs87 billion and significant reputational damage to Pakistan’s aviation sector.
The cabinet, he added, had recommended an inquiry into the former minister’s statement, given its far-reaching consequences on PIA and the grounding of several Pakistani pilots working for international carriers.
Senator Rehman also raised broader concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding PIA’s privatization plan, urging the government to provide transparency. “The grounding of aircraft and uncertainty over the airline’s future need urgent attention,” she said.
Dar, while defending the privatization initiative, stated that the process was progressing rapidly and called for Pakistan’s corporate sector to take the lead in reviving the national carrier.
