Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered losses amounting to billions of rupees as several of its aircraft remained grounded for extended periods, according to the latest report presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The Auditor General’s Office disclosed on Wednesday that routine maintenance delays caused several PIA aircraft to remain inactive for periods ranging from 44 to 239 days during 2022. One aircraft reportedly stayed grounded for an extraordinary 652 days. The audit attributed these prolonged groundings to management negligence, calculating the resulting losses at Rs. 21.82 billion.
Officials further highlighted that PIA incurred additional losses of Rs. 8.6 billion due to the failure to dispose of spare parts and retired aircraft, in violation of established rules. The spare parts, valued at Rs. 8.566 billion, belonged to aircraft such as Boeing 747, Boeing 707, Cessna, SA-310, and WB-737 and were retained between 2015 and 2021.
Other losses included Rs. 2.61 billion stemming from non-implementation of board directives concerning properties, Rs. 1.669 billion from irregular payments, and Rs. 112 million from procurement conducted outside the guidelines of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. Ministry of Defence officials informed the committee that several factors contributed to the extended groundings, including Covid-related restrictions, supply chain disruptions, structural repairs, and financial constraints.
The audit report underscores longstanding operational inefficiencies at PIA, raising concerns about accountability and management practices. With billions lost and aircraft grounded for months, experts warn that corrective measures are crucial to prevent further financial hemorrhage and restore the airline’s operational credibility.