SEATTLE, United States: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the headquarters of Boeing Company in Washington on Thursday and discussed progress on Pakistan International Airlines’ plan to acquire 16 new aircraft to expand its fleet.
During the visit, Naqvi held a meeting with Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson. The minister was accompanied by a delegation from the new management of PIA, a press release issued by the interior ministry said.
The two sides discussed significant progress on PIA’s plan to acquire 16 new aircraft and reviewed the best available options for the purchase.
“Both sides agreed to work towards finalising the most suitable deal at the earliest,” it said.
Minister Naqvi thanked Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson for assuring full cooperation in expediting the acquisition of new aircraft for PIA.
واشنگٹن،وفاقی وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی کا بوئنگ کمپنی کے ہیڈ کوارٹرز کا دورہ
اس موقع پر پی آئی اے کی نئی مینجمنٹ کا وفد بھی شامل تھا
وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی کی بوئنگ گلوبل کے صدر برینڈن نیلسن سے ملاقات
ملاقات میں پی آئی اے کے لئے 16 نئے طیاروں کی خریداری کے لئے اہم پیش رفت pic.twitter.com/Tjh9pJuNjR— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) July 16, 2026
He also appreciated Boeing’s pivotal role in the global aviation and aircraft manufacturing industry.
Naqvi arrived in the US on July 9th as Pakistan and the United States began a new round of discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening economic cooperation.
Pakistan keen on direct flights to US
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier said that the government is keen to see the early launch of direct flights between Pakistan and the United States, adding that bilateral relations are rooted in mutual trust and cooperation.
Also Read: Pakistan Transfers National Airline’s Management Control to Arif Habib-Led Consortium
Pakistan’s Privatisation Commission last month announced the formal handover of management control of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) to the Arif Habib Corporation-led consortium, marking the completion of the privatisation process that was initiated last year.
In December last year, the government completed the sale of a 75 percent stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to a consortium led by Arif Habib for Rs10.1 billion in cash, marking the country’s first major privatisation transaction in nearly two decades.
Boeing plays key role in Pakistan’s aviation sector
The history of the relationship between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Boeing spans more than six decades and has played a major role in the development of Pakistan’s aviation sector.
In 1960, PIA became the first airline in Asia to introduce the Boeing 707 into scheduled commercial service, marking a significant milestone in the region’s aviation history and enabling faster international travel.
The partnership expanded in 1979 with the induction of the Boeing 747, which allowed PIA to increase capacity and extend its long-haul network to destinations across Europe, North America and the Middle East.
During the 1980s and 1990s, PIA operated several Boeing aircraft, including different variants of the Boeing 737 for domestic and regional routes, while continuing to rely on the Boeing 747 for international operations.
A major milestone came in 2004 when PIA became launch customer for the Boeing 777-200 LR and later introduced the 777-200ER and 777-300ER variants into its fleet. These aircraft gradually replaced the ageing Boeing 747s and became the backbone of the airline’s long-haul operations.
Today, the Boeing 777 remains PIA’s primary aircraft for international services, connecting Pakistan with destinations in Europe, North America, the Gulf and East Asia.
