70 PIA flights canceled as Pakistan’s national flag carrier grapples with fuel crisis

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan’s national flag carrier, was forced on Sunday to cancel 70 out of its 81 scheduled domestic and international flights, a PIA spokesperson said, citing a severe shortage of fuel. The statement came a day after the state-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said it had received an advance payment of Rs220 million ($789,804) for the supply of fuel on Saturday and Sunday, along with a list of 39 PIA aircraft. However, the PIA spokesperson said only four aircraft were fueled on Sunday, severely affecting flight operations. PIA flights witnessed cancelations and delays this week after PSO suspended its supply of fuel to the airline on Monday over unpaid dues. The national flag carrier, slated for privatization by the government, has amassed substantial losses and unpaid dues amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees in recent years. The airline’s request for Rs23b ($76m) in operational support was declined by the government, prompting caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar to initiate a restructuring plan to stabilize the airline’s finances. “On Sunday, only 11 flights could operate out of 81 scheduled flights due to fuel challenges,” PIA spokesperson Abdulllah Khan told Arab News, adding the airline had been making advance payments to PSO for fuel supply. “The Pakistan International Airlines made a payment of Rs220 million on Friday which could last the weekend, but it did not. And on Sunday, we were refused fuel which resulted in massive cancelations.” Khan said there were “slim chances of a full restoration of flight operations” considering the way fuel was being supplied and amid PSO’s refusal to allow any credit line or relaxation to “a fellow government organization.” <br/>