On February 16, 2026, the Arif Habib Group announced its intention to acquire the remaining 25% stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), thereby moving towards complete ownership of the national carrier. The consortium is prepared to pay Rs 45 billion for this stake, with a deadline set for the end of April 2026 to finalize the transaction. This acquisition follows the group's earlier purchase of a 75% stake in December 2025 for Rs 135 billion, marking a significant milestone in the privatization of PIA, which has been struggling financially for years. Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatization, described this development as a “major milestone,” emphasizing that it is the first large-scale privatization in Pakistan in two decades. The government expects this move to save taxpayers around Rs 35 billion annually in subsidies and operational costs, as reported by ARY News and Dawn News.