Earlier, Supreme Court in Human Rights case no. 11827/S/2018 had ordered Special Audit of PIA which led to Audit Para No. 12.1.3 pertaining to corruption and corrupt practices by PIA management in practice of up-graduation of business class seats, In-flight Entertainment Service and integration of both resulting into pecuniary loss of Euro 5.3 million and US $ 1.65 million without delivery of any contracted material or services, causing loss to public exchequer.
The move ratchets up pressure on India's government to pay the sum of $1.2 billion plus interest and costs that the British firm Cairn was awarded by an arbitration tribunal in December. The body ruled India breached an investment treaty with Britain and said New Delhi was liable to pay.
Due to extremely challenging environment on account of COVID-19, PIA has attained gross loss of Rs 3.6 billion and operating loss of Rs 5.4 billion during the period ended March 31 2021.
Pakistan High Commissioner says the country must not be bracketed with Covid-hit India, as it has managed the pandemic well due to its strategy of smart lockdowns.
The PIA administration has fast-tracked the process of vaccination of its pilots, flight attendants, cabin, and cockpit crew, in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
So far, over 250 pilots and flight attendants have been administered COVID-19 vaccines.