PIA Reportedly Gave 258,000 Free Tickets and 116,000 Tickets at 95% Discount

An audit report has disclosed that the national treasury incurred losses of Rs 9.43 billion over six years due to Pakistan International Airlines’ practice of issuing free and discounted tickets. Between 2011 and 2016, more than 258,000 tickets were distributed at no cost, while an additional 116,000 tickets were sold at discounts of up to 95 percent. The report highlighted that many of these concessions went to people with no official link to the airline. The Auditor General of Pakistan observed that these discounts were granted without authorization from the PIA chairman or managing director. Despite repeated reminders, no meeting was held to address the issue until 2023. The audit recommended an immediate end to the free ticket policy. According to a PIA spokesperson, the practice was halted in 2018 after the Supreme Court banned free ticket distribution. The tickets had been issued earlier under an agent incentive scheme intended to boost sales. The spokesperson also noted that the audit observations are nine years old and that reviews by the Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) fall under the authority of the relevant ministry. The spokesperson suggested that the renewed focus on the audit may stem from pressure exerted by certain interest groups. Via: Samaa