Pakistan’s envoy to UAE says Islamabad pursuing progressive agenda to drive economic growth

KARACHI: Pakistan’s financially struggling national air carrier has recorded an operational profit of Rs9.3 billion ($33.48 million) for the first time in 21 years, the country’s defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Tuesday.
Pakistan’s cash-strapped administration is looking to privatize the debt-ridden Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to raise funds and overhaul state-owned enterprises as part of a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
However, a previous attempt to offload a 60 percent stake in the airline failed last year after it drew just one bid — well below the asking price — highlighting investor concerns over the carrier’s viability. The new development could boost the government’s efforts to revive buyer interest.
“#PIACL Board today has approved its accounts FY 2024, and after 21 years, it has achieved an operating profit of PKR 9.3 billion & net profit of PKR 26.2 billion [$94.32 million] (after deferred tax adjustment),” Asif said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
“People of #Pakistan might have lost hope on ‘once a pride of the nation’, but with rigorous steps adopted by the GoP, implementing comprehensive reforms entailing cost & workforce rationalization, routes optimization & financial discipline with balance sheet restructuring, PIA is poised to capitalize on financial performance through privatization process,” he added.
According to a statement from the airline’s spokesperson, the operational margin for 2024 exceeded 12 percent, a performance level the company said matches that of top global carriers.
PIA’s return to profitability is expected to enhance its market credibility and support the broader economy, it added.

ISLAMABAD: A South Africa-based Pakistani entrepreneur is investing in a coal-to-gasification plant at the Thar coalfields in southern Sindh province to generate cleaner energy and reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuels, state media reported on Tuesday.
The announcement follows Pakistan’s high-profile mining summit in Islamabad, which brought together investors, policymakers and industry leaders from around the world to explore the country’s vast untapped mineral wealth.
Businesswoman Tabassum Pardesi’s investment signals a renewed effort to harness Pakistan’s Thar coal reserves through gasification technology, which converts coal into synthetic gas for industrial use. The initiative can reduce energy costs, alleviate the country’s growing fuel import bill and provide a domestic alternative to costly liquefied natural gas.
“Tabassum ... is now spearheading a landmark investment initiative to establish a coal-to-gasification plant at the Thar coalfields,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said in its report.
“The venture, in collaboration with leading South African mining conglomerates, aims to generate cleaner energy, reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuels, and unlock long-term economic opportunities for the region.”
It highlighted that Pardesi, who is known for co-founding the South African Skywise Airlines, has submitted a proposal for the project to the Pakistani authorities and also initiated a “strategic lobbying” campaign during the minerals summit.
The report said her goal was to secure high-level public-private partnerships, streamline regulatory pathways and ensure alignment with Pakistan’s national energy and climate resilience goals.
Pakistan aims for a low-carbon future, targeting 60 percent renewable energy and 30 percent electric vehicle sales by 2030. It plans a 15 percent emissions reduction, increasing to 35 percent with international support.
“Pakistan has the potential to become a global mining powerhouse,” APP quoted Pardesi as saying. “With its abundant natural resources and a youthful workforce, all we need is visionary execution and international collaboration — and I’m here to help make that happen.”
The Thar desert is home to the world’s largest lignite coal reserves, estimated at 175 billion tons, equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil and 2,000 trillion cubic feet of gas. Pakistan’s mineral sector contributes only 3.2 percent to GDP and 0.1 percent to global mineral exports despite rich mineral resources including salt, copper, gold and coal.