- Issues that will be resolved once the line of credit is restored today: PIA.
- Flight operations were affected as PSO reduced fuel supplies.
- Only three flights will take off from Karachi due to the ‘fuel adjustment plan’.
KARACHI: Operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have been severely affected with several flights canceled due to fuel shortage amid the prevailing financial crisis facing the national carrier.
Officials said as many as 26 flights from cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Multan and Gwadar were canceled after Pakistan State Oil (PSO) cut fuel supplies to PIA. Ta.
A PIA spokesperson said the national carrier’s authorities were looking into the matter and expected fuel supplies to be restored by the end of today once a credit facility was made available to those affected. It added that passengers were being offered alternative flights.
As many as 18 flights were canceled from Karachi, of which three were to Islamabad, while two flights to Karachi were also canceled from Lahore and the federal capital respectively.
Meanwhile, as per PIA’s fuel adjustment plan, only three flights will take off from Karachi today.
PIA’s financial difficulties
The national carrier is facing dire financial situation after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in July this year froze all its bank accounts for non-payment of taxes, after which the airline was unable to clear its outstanding dues. There is. PSO.
In September, PIA had requested an emergency relief of Rs 22.9 billion, which was rejected by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
The ECC also rejected a request for deferment of payment of Rs 1.3 billion per month paid by PIA to FBR for Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Rs 700 million per month paid by PIA to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Against boarding charges.
Earlier this month, PIA Flight PK 790 was grounded in Canada due to ground handling and fuel company complaints.
However, the plane was released after $200,000 worth of dues were cleared by the airline.
