The ongoing conflict between PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) and PSO (Pakistan State Oil) regarding fuel supply escalated further on Sunday, leading to a severe impact on PIA’s flight operations due to the fuel shortage.
PSO has accused PIA of not adhering to the terms outlined in their agreement for fuel supply. According to a PIA representative, out of the 52 scheduled international flights on October 21, only 4 were operational. Similarly, for the flights planned on Sunday and Monday, only one domestic flight was able to proceed, affecting destinations such as China, Kuala Lumpur, Canada, and Istanbul.
PIA attributed the delay in payment on Sunday to operational disruptions but confirmed that a payment of Rs220 million was made to PSO the previous day. In response, PSO denied the suspension of fuel supply, asserting that it had indeed supplied fuel to 24 flights from Saturday night onwards. PSO also emphasized its commitment to providing the remaining fuel as per the agreement.
The PIA spokesperson expressed hope that ongoing communication with the concerned authorities would result in the full restoration of flight operations by the evening. As the conflict persists, both parties are likely to continue their efforts to resolve the fuel supply issue and ensure the smooth functioning of PIA’s flight operations.
