LAHORE:In a recent development of significant concern, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has taken the unprecedented step of suspending fuel supplies to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) due to unpaid dues. The fuel supply was suspended by the PSO at Lahore airport.

According to a PIA spokesperson, the disruption in fuel supply by PSO at Lahore airport has led to substantial flight delays, adversely affecting passengers traveling on key routes such as Lahore to Madina (PK-747) and Lahore to Karachi (PK-305). However, PIA is actively engaged in ongoing negotiations with PSO in an effort to expedite a resolution, with the hope that these delayed flights can take off without further inconvenience to passengers.

This development adds to the growing list of challenges confronting PIA. Reports have emerged detailing technical faults plaguing several Boeing 777 aircraft operated by PIA during international flights. These technical issues are reportedly linked to a lack of maintenance and repair work carried out by the airline’s engineering department.

Significantly, the restructuring plan designed to facilitate the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines has gained momentum. The PIA administration has formally sought applications from legal and corporate firms for the comprehensive restructuring plan, with the Department of Contract Management now entrusted with processing these applications by the impending deadline of October 6. The ultimate objective of this plan is the seamless transfer of the national airline’s assets, encompassing property, debts, aircraft, and workforce, to a new corporate entity. This strategic move aims to present PIA as a debt-free entity, thereby enhancing its appeal to potential investors who are keenly interested in participating in the privatization process.

The trajectory of Pakistan International Airlines remains shrouded in uncertainty as it grapples with an array of formidable challenges, ranging from financial constraints and operational disruptions to the intricacies of a comprehensive restructuring process that paves the way for privatization.