*KARACHI:* The Supreme court issued notices to PIA chairman and ministry ofdefence directing them to submit their respective replies about anyintention of the government to privatise the PIA. The court’s order sheetalso asked whether certain profitable routes of the national airliner hadbeen given to other airlines, including Airblue.

The court directed the federal government and PIA chairman to ensuresubmission of their reports within one week and fixed the matter at theprincipal seat Islamabad in the second week of April.

The Supreme Court on Saturday asked the federal government whether therewas any intention to privatise the Pakistan International Airline (PIA).

The court asked this while Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisarwas hearing a miscellaneous application filed against the plannedprivatisation of the national airline. Justice Faisal Arab was also amember of the apex court bench that was hearing the case at its Karachiregistry.

On March 7, the federal cabinet had approved the privatisation of PIA, morethan two weeks after a related cabinet panel gave the go-ahead to privatisethe loss-making airline. The approval was granted during the cabinet’sweekly meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.