KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) on Thursday suspended fuel supply to the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Karachi and Lahore to recover its pending amount of Rs 15.8 billion but after the intervention of the federal government and higher management, it restored the fuel supply, it is learnt.
A source within PSO informed, “despite promises of the higher officials of the airline, payments were not being received from PIA, adding that the supply was not completely stopped to ensure that passengers do not face difficulties.’
According to sources, PIA’s debt with the PSO is increased by Rs 35 million per day, with total outstanding payments hovering around Rs 15.8 billion. PSO is supplying 530 metric tonnes of jet oil fuel and diesel etc to PIA on daily basis in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and other stations.
The problem of defaulting on payments stems back many years. In January, PSO had suspended fuel supply to PIA over the same issue, while in October 2016 PSO had complained that, after suspending supply, that PIA was paying Shell International Company in advance for fuel it was going to consume but when it came to PSO the attitude was different.
On the other side, a PIA official in Karachi replied that the airline is making approximately payment of Rs 3 billion on monthly basis to this oil company as per the routine business.
