Federal Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq Thursday unearthed the details of the luxurious expenses and income of Pakistan International Airlines PIA for the last three years in the National Assembly meeting, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to the details of the expenses, the PIA officers and workers have been given 22600 free tickets in the last three years. The airline earned Rs328.67billion and spent Rs148.40billion for operations in the last three years.

The national airline earned Rs147billion in 2019, Rs95billion in 2020 and Rs86billion in the year 2021 and spent Rs174.55billion in 2019, Rs38.88billion in 2020 and Rs35billion in 2021 respectively on the salaries of staff, engine maintenance and wear and tear of the planes.

The PIA officials were given the privilege of 19500 domestic and 3000 abroad miles for free.

In the year 2020, 8286 free tickets were distributed to PIA officers, 7067 in 2021, while 7249 free tickets were distributed till September this year.

In the meeting of national assembly, Aviation Minister announced the conversion of Sukkur and Dera Ismail Khan Airports into International airports and stated that the initial processes for upgradation of both the airports have been completed and the Karachi Airport Runway is now up for upgradation.

The Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore generates the highest revenue whereas the airport with the highest potential in the future will be the Islamabad Airport.

Saad continued saying that only 17 out of 47 airports across the country are operational as we have airports but not airplanes.

He said PIA’s field planning was done wrong as it was not done on commercial basis.

Saad said that the PIA and the Railways will be set on track if the policy continues.