Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which is currently for sale, has suffered a staggering operational and financial loss exceeding Rs21.81 billion due to the prolonged grounding of aircraft in its fleet for maintenance.

According to the auditor general’s report, the routine maintenance of PIA’s aircraft took between 44 to 239 days, far longer than expected.

The inordinate delay, attributed to administrative negligence, led to massive operational disruptions and financial losses amounting to Rs 21.81 billion.

The report highlights that PIA’s management was informed about the issue in September 2023.

However, the airline’s ability to perform timely repairs and maintenance was severely hampered by financial constraints and payment issues.

The audit report further urges the national flag carrier to provide documentary evidence related to the prolonged grounding of the aircraft and other related financial issues.

However, it is pertinent to note that this is not the first time PIA has faced such challenges.

Previously, irregularities amounting to Rs38.40 billion were also highlighted, making the recurrence of such issues a matter of grave concern.