Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expected to be privatized by November this year, the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation was informed on Monday. According to the Privatisation Commission secretary, four companies are in the bidding process and must partner with established airlines to operate PIA, while two applicants have already been disqualified for not meeting requirements. Addressing concerns over PIA’s Rs650 billion debt, committee chairman Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan suggested selling the airline’s two hotels to help reduce liabilities.