Pakistan Airlines Cancels 48 Flights In Two Days Due To Fuel Shortage Over Funds Unavailability

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national carrier of Pakistan, has been forced to cancel 48 flights, both domestic and international, due to a shortage of fuel. This has resulted in operational issues and the rescheduling of some flights, according to a spokesperson for PIA.

The spokesperson informed The Dawn, a Pakistani news outlet, that the cancellation of flights was due to limited fuel supply for the airline's daily operations. Specifically, 13 domestic flights and 11 international flights were cancelled on Tuesday due to fuel unavailability. Additionally, 12 other flights experienced delays.

Passengers affected by the cancelled flights were accommodated on alternative flights, as stated by the PIA. To avoid any inconvenience, it is recommended that passengers check their flight status by contacting the PIA customer care, PIA offices, or their travel agent before heading to the airport.

16 international flights and eight domestic flights were cancelled on Wednesday (18 October), causing inconvenience for many travelers. Additionally, some flights are expected to be delayed.

The fuel shortage for PIA aircraft has been caused by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) suspending its supply due to unpaid dues. This has further added to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the airline, which is already on the verge of collapse and heading towards privatisation due to its mounting debts.

Adding to the challenges, the Pakistan government has refused to provide Rs 23 billion in support for operational expenses, despite the national airline's plea for assistance, India Today reported.

To keep its operations running smoothly, PIA requires Rs 10 crore per day to pay for fuel from PSO. However, since PSO now demands advance cash payments only, the airline is unable to meet this requirement. As a result, there is a growing concern about potential flight cancellations in the near future.

This recent development comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with one of the worst economic crises in its history, coupled with political instability. The country's inflation rate currently stands at a record high of 21.3 percent.

The Pakistani rupee has experienced a 50 per cent decrease in value against the US dollar within the last year, leading to a critically low level of foreign exchange reserves at approximately $10 billion.

The price of petrol and diesel in Pakistan surpassed Rs-300 in September in an unprecedented event. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, the caretaker government implemented a hike in petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices, with an increase of Rs 14.91 and Rs 18.44 per litre, respectively.

As a result of the price hike, petrol is now priced at Rs 305.36, while diesel has reached Rs 311.84.

Massive protests erupted in Pakistan due to the high electricity bills. Demonstrations took place in multiple locations including Multan, Lahore, Karachi, and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). People expressed their frustration by burning their bills and confronting officials from power distribution companies.

In the first six months of the year, over 8 lakh people left Pakistan, which is a record number. Among them were 1 lakh highly trained professionals, indicating a significant brain drain from the country. Pakistan is currently facing a crumbled economy and is plagued by Islamic fundamentalism.