Pakistan: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Opposes PIA Privatization, Proposes Public-Private Partnership

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), has voiced his opposition to the privatization of the loss-making national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Instead, he has urged the government to operate PIA under a public-private partnership model to revive the airline.

Regarding the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Bilawal stated that if the government is unable to revive the steel mill, it should hand over ownership to the Sindh government, which would then run it under a public-private partnership. "If the government cannot revive the Pakistan Steel Mills, it should hand it over to the Sindh government, which will then run it under a public-private partnership," Bilawal said.

Bilawal also expressed optimism that the Sindh and Balochistan governments would increase wages for workers in the forthcoming budget, and he urged the federal government to follow suit. He emphasized the PPP's philosophy of rewarding workers for their hard work, highlighting the party's legislative efforts in Sindh to protect workers' rights.

Why this matters: The proposed public-private partnership approach for PIA and PSM could potentially serve as a model for reviving other struggling state-owned enterprises in Pakistan. The call for wage increases across federal and provincial governments reflects the growing concern over the impact of inflation on workers' livelihoods.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reiterated the PPP's stance against the privatization of institutions like PIA, advocating for a pragmatic approach that explores public-private partnerships as an alternative. He also announced the appointment of former Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani to mobilize the People's Labor Bureau nationwide, underscoring the party's commitment to labor rights and workers' welfare.

Key Takeaways

• Bilawal opposes PIA privatization, urges public-private partnership model to revive airline.
• Bilawal wants Sindh govt to run Pakistan Steel Mills under public-private partnership if govt can't revive it.
• Bilawal expects Sindh and Balochistan govts to increase workers' wages in upcoming budgets.
• Bilawal's public-private partnership approach could serve as a model for reviving other state-owned enterprises.
• Bilawal appoints Mian Raza Rabbani to mobilize People's Labor Bureau, emphasizing labor rights and welfare.