ISLAMABAD: Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd. (FFC), a unit of the Pakistan army-run Fauji Foundation, said on Monday its board had approved submitting an expression of interest to acquire a stake in loss-making national carrier PIA, according to a filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

Islamabad is trying to offload a controlling stake of 51-100 percent in PIA under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program aimed at overhauling state-owned firms. Authorities last month pushed back the deadline for expressions of interest to June 19. 

“The board … has approved submission of an expression of interest and pre-qualification documents to the Privatization Commission … and undertaking a comprehensive due-diligence exercise,” FFC said in the filing. 

FFC is Pakistan’s biggest fertilizer maker and has diversified interests in energy, food and finance. Any deal on PIA would expand the military group’s footprint into aviation, though final terms will hinge on the government’s privatization process and regulatory approvals.

FFC’s move marks Pakistan’s second attempt to sell PIA. 

A 2024 auction drew only one offer – Rs10 billion ($36 million) for 60 percent of the airline from real-estate developer Blue World City – far below the government’s Rs85 billion ($305 million) floor price and was rejected. 

Pakistan had offloaded nearly 80 percent of the airline’s legacy debt and shifted it to government books ahead of the privatization attempt. The rest of the debt was also cleaned out of the airline’s accounts after the failed sale attempt to make it more attractive to potential buyers, according to the country’s privatization ministry.

In April, PIA posted an operating profit of Rs9.3 billion ($33.1 million) for 2024, its first in 21 years.

The airline has for years survived on government bailouts as its operational earnings were eaten up by debt servicing costs.

Officials say offloading the debt burden and recent reforms like shedding staff, exiting unprofitable routes and other cost-cutting measures led to the profitable year.

Ahead of the attempt to sell the airline last year, PIA had faced threats of being shut down, with planes impounded at international airports over its failure to pay bills and flights canceled due to a shortage of funds to pay for fuel or spare parts.

The state carrier’s 34-plane fleet commands only 23 percent of Pakistan’s domestic market, while Middle Eastern rivals take about 60 percent of overall traffic, thanks to wider route networks and direct connections.