LAHORE: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Saturday that national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the first institution in line for privatization, with others to follow later.
Speaking to the media after submitting his nomination papers for the Senate election, Finance Minister Aurangzeb said that the government’s role is to formulate policies, not engage in business operations.
“Our focus has always been on implementing and enforcing policies,” he explained while justifying the government plan to privatize loss-making PIA and other state institutes.
Aurangzeb mentioned discussions with the IMF to bring reforms to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the prime institution for tax revenue.
Expressing satisfaction with obtaining Pakistani citizenship, he affirmed his intention to remain in Pakistan beyond his ministerial tenure.
Earlier, Aurangzeb filed his nomination papers for a Senate seat in Punjab.
The Senate elections for 48 vacant seats are scheduled for April 2 in the National Assembly, Senate, and the four provincial assemblies.
