Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ko private sector mein shamil karne ke liye hukumat ne Rs26 billion ka tax exemption IMF se approve karwane ki koshish shuru kar di hai. Yeh faisla investors ko attract karne ke liye liya gaya hai, kyun ke PIA ki negative equity jo Rs45 billion tak pohanch chuki hai, usay privatise karna mushkil bana raha hai.
Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan ne Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation ke samne brief karte hue kaha ke investors ki taraf se kuch zaroori shara’it rakhi gayi hain, jin mein naye aircraft ke induction par advance GST exemption shamil hai. Yeh qadam operational costs ko kam karega aur PIA ki financial health ko behtar banayega.
Hukumat ko airline ki Rs45 billion ki negative equity ko bhi address karna hoga aur purane qarz nikal kar ek saaf financial slate deni hogi taake deal ko finalize kiya ja sake.
IMF ki manzoori critical hai, kyun ke is tax relief aur liability restructuring plan ka asar Pakistan ke overall economic framework par parega, jo Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme ke under hai.
Investors ne teen aham shara’it rakhi hain:
- Rs26 billion tax exemption.
- Rs10 billion bridge financing costs ka maaf hona.
- PIA-owned property in Islamabad jo Rs12 billion ki hai, uska transfer.
Aleem Khan ka kehna hai, “As a businessman, mujhe lagta hai ke is mein potential hai, lekin hukumat ko bold decisions lene honge.” Committee ke chairman Senator Talal Chaudhry ne delays par frustration ka izhar kiya aur kaha ke PIA ki successful privatisation se minister ki legacy barhegi.
Privatisation Commission ke secretary Usman Akhtar Bajwa ne bataya ke IMF ke framework ke bagair FBR ya finance ministry koi madad nahi kar sakti. Bajwa ne yeh bhi kaha ke prime minister ne IMF ke sath meeting mein in demands ko raise kiya hai aur jawab ka intezar ho raha hai.
Abu Dhabi Ports jese international entities ke sath bhi discussions ho rahi hain, aur PIA ke kuch profitable routes investors ke liye attractive banate hain. Hukumat ka plan DISCOs ko bhi privatise karne ka hai, aur is process ke liye World Bank ki report ka intezar hai jo agle do hafton mein expected hai.
