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Pakistan to hold last bidding for nationwide airline with shortlist of one

The bidding procedure for Pakistan's national airline company will open on Thursday, with just one participant in the first significant privatisation in over a decade.

The cash-strapped country is aiming to offload a 51-100%. stake in debt-ridden Pakistan International Airlines. to raise funds and reform bleeding state-owned business as. envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund. program.

The Privatisation Ministry said that the process would begin. at 1:30 p.m. (0830 GMT) and quotes will be opened at 6:30 p.m. in. Islamabad.

The government had actually pre-qualified six groups in June, however. just one - property development business Blue World City - met. a Tuesday due date to send final documents to take part in. the process.

Officials from three groups that chose not to bid informed. Reuters on condition of anonymity that there were concerns about. the government's ability to stand by contracts made for the. flag carrier in the long term.

One executive voiced concern about policy continuity as soon as a. brand-new federal government was available in. The federal government of Prime Minister Shehbaz. Sharif has counted on a union of disparate political celebrations.

The disposal of PIA is an action previous governments have. guided away from as it has been extremely unpopular given the. number of layoffs that would likely arise from it.

Underpinning these issues over policy continuity and. honouring agreements was the government's termination of power. purchase contracts with five private business previously this. month, along with the process of re-negotiating other sovereign. guaranteed pacts.

Changes in Pakistan's decade-old agreements with private IPP. tasks, largely financed by foreign lenders, to deal with. persistent power scarcities, raises the threat of investing as well. as doing business in Pakistan, even in the existence of sovereign. agreements along with warranties, stated Sakib Sherani, an. economic expert who heads personal firm Macro Economic Insights.

Other concerns raised by potential bidders consisted of. inconsistent government communication, unappealing terms and. taxes on the sector, in addition to PIA's legacy issues and. reputation.

(source: Reuters)