PAKISTAN International Airlines (PIA) was established by rebranding and nationalising Orient Airways by the government in 1955. Over the years, PIA grew to become one of the major airlines in Asia, known for its hospitality, reliability and innovation. PIA’s golden age was under its early leadership, the visionary Air Marshal Nur Khan (1959-65).
He revolutionised PIA through bold marketing, modern jets, pioneering routes and exceptional service, making it a source of national pride. PIA even helped establish other airlines in the region before the sustained decline began in the mid-1970s due to politicisation, corruption and mismanagement, a trend that worsened over the following decades.
The sale of PIA represents a turning point in the airline’s history, sparking debates about the future of aviation in Pakistan and the importance of preserving a heritage.
It is imperative that we just do not shy away from holding accountable all those individuals whose decisions and actions led to this unfortunate outcome. The public has a right to know how a national asset was brought to its knees. A clear, official identification of those responsible, across political administrations, manage-ments and boards, is essential to restore trust in public institutions.
Naming and shaming these individuals is not about seeking revenge, but about ensuring that justice is served, and that such a grave error is not repeated. It is a call for transparency, accountability and responsibility in the face of adversity.
The sale of PIA, while perhaps a necessary step to stem bleeding public funds, must not be the end of the story. Allowing the era of loss to pass without a rigorous accounting would be a grave injustice to the people and a guarantee that the cycle will reappear elsewhere.
True reform requires not just punishing the wrongdoers of the past, but fixing the governance, oversight and professional culture that enabled them.
The campaign for accountability is vital for Pakistan’s economic future and the integrity of its public institutions.
Air-Cdre (retd) M. Khalid Kamal
Islamabad
Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026
