KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has incurred a staggering loss of over Rs 21.81 billion, which is primarily attributed to prolonged grounding of its aircraft for routine maintenance.
The Auditor General’s report highlights that maintenance procedures for a period of forty-four to forty-two days significantly exceeded the expected duration, causing significant operational and financial problems for the national carrier.
The audit revealed that the airline’s management had been informed of the maintenance delays and their impact as early as September 2012. Despite these warnings, the problem persisted, leading to a significant financial burden.
The report highlighted that management did not provide sufficient documentary evidence to justify the extended grounding of the planes or resolve other related financial irregularities.
This latest revelation reinforces existing concerns about PIA’s financial management after previous reports highlighted irregularities of Rs. 38 billion and 40 million crowns.
The recurring nature of these issues raised significant concerns about the airline’s operational oversight and financial integrity.
Management officials attribute the delays and financial burden to ongoing funding constraints and payment problems that are said to be preventing timely repairs and maintenance of the fleet.
However, the audit findings question the effectiveness of the airline’s management in addressing these critical operational issues.
