The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken a stringent measure against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for its unsettled tax liabilities. FBR has frozen 26 of PIA’s bank accounts due to the airline’s failure to clear taxes amounting to more than Rs 8 billion.
By August, PIA had previously committed to settling a portion of its outstanding Federal Excise Duty, amounting to Rs2 billion. However, as the deadline lapsed, the airline did not follow through on its commitment, prompting FBR’s decisive action.
PIA’s Assurance to Customers
In the wake of these financial challenges, a spokesperson from PIA addressed concerns about potential disruptions in their flight operations. Emphasizing the airline’s dedication to its customers, they assured that freezing the bank accounts would not impede or halt any of PIA’s flight services.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t PIA’s first financial setback. In July, the national carrier faced a significant operational hiccup when Pakistan State Oil (PSO) denied fuel supply to three of its aircraft. This denial disrupted some of PIA’s flight schedules, affecting routes like PK-309 from Islamabad to Karachi, PK-330 from Karachi to Multan, and PK-739 from Multan to Jeddah.