Pakistan Negotiates Purchase of 16 Boeing Aircraft for PIA

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi led a delegation to Boeing headquarters in Washington on Thursday to negotiate the acquisition of 16 new aircraft for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Meeting with Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson and PIA management, Naqvi sought to identify suitable aircraft options and secure a competitive commercial arrangement to enhance the carrier's operational reliability and passenger services.

Both parties agreed to expedite the procurement process as part of a broader turnaround strategy for the national carrier. This move follows the privatization of PIA in December 2025, when a consortium led by Arif Habib Corporation acquired a 75 percent stake in the airline for Rs135 billion ($482 million).

The consortium intends to expand PIA's fleet from 19 to 64 aircraft over the next eight years, supported by a total investment of Rs180 billion ($643 million). As part of the airline's leadership overhaul, PIA has selected Tewolde Gebremariam, the former chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new CEO, pending security clearances.