KARACHI: A Saudi prince’s plans to acquire privately-owned air carrier, Shaheen Air International is akin to “breathing new life into Pakistan’s dying aviation industry”, experts said on Friday.
“Shaheen Air International has finalized its acquisition deal with a Saudi prince. The takeover is likely to happen over the course of the next two months,” Zohaib Hassan, spokesman of Shaheen Air International (SAI), told Arab News, without naming the investor.
He added that more details would be unveiled in a joint news conference next week.
“We will be conducting a press conference very soon to announce the name of the investor and share details of the acquisition. This will be a breakthrough deal for the airline as well as for Pakistan’s aviation industry,” Javed Sehbai, acting CEO of SAI, said in a statement released on Thursday.
“It’s a matter of a few weeks before Shaheen Air takes to the skies again and shines brighter than before. Due payments of government regulatory bodies and our employees’ salaries are our first priority and will be cleared during the first stage of our investment plans,” he added.
Shaheen Air commenced its operations as Pakistan’s first private airline in December 1993. “It operates on various domestic and international routes and in 2015, it became the only private airline from Pakistan to fly east with non-stop flights from Lahore to Guangzhou, China,” Sehbai said.
However, the airline’s domestic and international operations were suspended due to a dispute with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority over non-payment of arrears amounting to more than Rs1.5 billion.
“Once Shaheen Air was the top private airline of Pakistan but the past several months have been difficult for us. Our offices are sealed and our operations suspended. In such a scenario, the Saudi investment is like a new life for the airline,” Sehbai said.
Tariq Abul Hasan, an expert in civil aviation for more than two decades, recalls a time when Pakistan’s aviation industry was flourishing, specifically until the mid-80s when Pakistan’s national carrier, the PIA, was one of the 10 best airlines in the world.
In the private sector, however, Shaheen Air was the country’s top private airline with its own hanger and best engineering staff. “PIA was the first Asian airline which started direct flights for Europe. Pakistan’s civil aviation industry was once the fastest growing, with more than 40 airlines, including the world’s top airline, flying from Karachi,” he said, adding that in the current situation, the Saudi investment is a major relief for the sector.
Shaheen Air, besides ensuring profitable routes for Europe and Gulf, also has a permit for operating Hajj flights, Hasan said, adding that in order to fly higher, “all it needed was this deal.”
Saudi prince to be the wind beneath Shaheen Air’s wings
Saudi prince to be the wind beneath Shaheen Air’s wings
- Officials say airline to be taken over by a member of the royal family in two months
- Move could help revive Pakistan’s dying aviation industry, experts say
Pakistan beat India by 191 runs to win U-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai
- Sameer Minhas played a clinical 172-run knock to lead Pakistan to a commanding total of 347-8
- In response, India were in the game for first few overs but collapsed at 156 runs from 26.2 overs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan delivered a commanding all-round performance to thrash arch-rivals India by 191 runs in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday, dominating the contest with both bat and ball.
India, who were undefeated in the tournament, won the toss and put Pakistan to bat first. The decision did not pan out well for the Blue Shirts as Pakistan were off to a flying start, powered by opener Sameer Minhas and middle-order batter Usman Khan.
The two built a 92-run partnership before Khan returned to the pavilion. Minhas, however, kept on piling the runs and smashed a clinical 172-run knock to lead Pakistan to a commanding total of 347-8 from 50 overs. Ahmed Hussain scored 56 runs off 72 deliveries.
In response, India were in the game for the first few overs, but after that, it was all Pakistan, with bowlers picking up wickets at regular intervals. The Indian side collapsed at 156 runs from 26.2 overs. Minhas was declared player-of-the-match and player-of-the-series.
“It was a good innings... we wanted to bat first looking at the track,” Minhas said. “It is very memorable for me.”
Ali Raza picking up 4 wickets for Pakistan, while Deepesh Devendran was the pick of the Indian bowlers, returning figures of 3-83.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the U19 team on the impressive victory.
“Impressive victory over India in final shows young players’ dedication and resolve,” he said on X. “A proud moment for the nation. Appreciation to captain, team, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and coaches.”
