KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered a financial loss exceeding Rs 21.81 billion due to the prolonged grounding of its aircraft for maintenance, according to a recent audit report.
The report revealed that routine maintenance of PIA’s aircraft took between 44 to 239 days, significantly longer than standard timeframes. This delay, attributed to administrative negligence, resulted in substantial operational and financial losses totaling Rs 21.815 billion.
The airline’s management was notified of the issue in September 2023. In response, they cited financial constraints and payment issues as the primary reasons for the delays in timely repairs and maintenance.
The Auditor General has directed the PIA administration to provide documentary evidence related to the financial implications of the prolonged aircraft grounding. The report also raised concerns over recurring issues, noting that a similar case involving Rs 38.4 billion in irregularities had been identified previously, further exacerbating the current situation.
