Special Correspondent
Islamabad, June 5, 2026: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is facing a major challenge ahead of its planned takeover by a private consortium, as the airline prepares for a critical international safety and operational audit.
According to sources, a team from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will arrive in Pakistan on Sunday to conduct a comprehensive review of the airline’s operations. The formal audit process is scheduled to begin on June 8.
The inspection will be a risk-based and highly stringent evaluation covering all major departments of the national carrier. The audit outcome is expected to play a key role in determining PIA’s global safety rating and operational credibility.
PIA management has intensified preparations ahead of the assessment. The airline’s CEO has instructed all departments to ensure full readiness, proper documentation, and updated safety manuals.
Officials say staff have been directed to maintain accurate records and ensure strict compliance with international safety standards during the audit period.
The upcoming evaluation is being viewed as a crucial test for PIA as it moves toward a private ownership structure following its privatization in December 2025, when the airline was sold through an open auction to a Pakistani investment consortium led by the Arif Habib Group for Rs 135 billion.
The transaction marked one of the country’s largest privatization deals in recent years and involved the transfer of a majority stake under a competitive bidding process.