Karachi: Chairman of the Arif Habib Consortium, Arif Habib, announced plans to expand Pakistan International Airlines’ fleet to 60 aircraft, while confirming that only 18 planes are currently operational.
He shared these remarks during an address at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), where prominent industrialists and business leaders attended the session.
Fleet recovery and expansion plan
Arif Habib stated that PIA currently owns 30 aircraft, of which 5 to 6 require maintenance and repairs.
He added that efforts are underway to restore these planes, which will increase the operational fleet to 26 aircraft in the near term.
He emphasized that expanding the fleet to 60 aircraft remains a key long-term target to strengthen the airline’s global standing.
Habib also highlighted that representing the business community at the government level is an honor, and he continues to advocate for resolving their issues.
Energy costs and economic outlook
He noted that Pakistan’s economy has shown signs of stability, with improved revenues and the government managing to meet expenditures and debt servicing.
However, he stressed that reducing the cost of production is essential for sustainable economic growth.
Habib pointed out that electricity prices remain high due to capacity charges, despite underutilization of the transmission system.
He suggested that fully utilizing over 22,000 megawatts of available capacity could reduce electricity costs by Rs10 to Rs12 per unit.
He urged the business community to remain united beyond political affiliations and present a collective voice to the government.
Habib also identified IT, agriculture, and mining as key sectors that can drive rapid economic recovery and growth.