An audit has revealed that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) caused losses of more than Rs 9.43 billion to the national exchequer by distributing free and heavily discounted tickets between 2011 and 2016.
According to the report, over 258,000 tickets were issued free of charge, while another 116,000 were sold at discounts of up to 95 percent. Most of these concessions went to individuals who had no official link to the airline.
The Auditor General noted that the practice was carried out without the approval of the PIA chairman or managing director.
Despite repeated reminders, no meeting was held to address the issue until 2023. The audit recommended that the policy of free tickets should be abolished immediately.
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Responding to the findings, a PIA spokesperson said the practice had already been discontinued in 2018 following a Supreme Court order. The tickets, according to the spokesperson, were earlier distributed under an agent incentive program designed to boost sales.
The spokesperson also stressed that the audit covered events that took place nine years ago and that its review falls under the authority of the Departmental Accounts Committee and the relevant ministry. They added that renewed focus on the matter could be linked to pressure from interest groups.