PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) is shifting its headquarters to Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International from Karachi International, while a new framework plan for the carrier has been sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for final approval, the country's Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Citing sources at the Aviation Division of Pakistan, which operates directly under the prime minister, the relocation of the flag carrier's head office has been finalised. The move has also been agreed with the Pakistan Air Force, where PIA's current CEO, Arshad Malik, has the rank of air marshall.

At the moment, according to the Aviation Division, the airline has shifted its procedure bureau, central reservation control, and its marketing, revenue management, human resources, and security and vigilance divisions to Islamabad, while its finance, engineering, and control room are still in Karachi.

Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told journalists on March 3 that while four aircraft had been grounded when Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party came to power in 2018, two had been repaired "indigenously" at the cost of USD3 million and a further two would be added to the fleet in the coming weeks.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, PIA's fleet numbers 35 aircraft, including five ATR42-500s, five ATR72-500s, thirteen A320-200s, six B777-200(ER)s, two B777-200(LR)s, and four B777-300(ER)s.

The minister said that the financial condition of PIA was improving gradually and promised that there would be no downsizing at PIA and that the rights of employees would be protected.