PIA bank accounts frozen over non-payment of excise duty

On Thursday, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) froze 13 bank accounts of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after the airline failed to pay Rs8 billion in Federal Excise Duty (FED).

PIA bank accounts that are associated with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will also be frozen, FBR officials added.

“A decision has been made to register a first information report (FIR) against PIA officials for not submitting the FED,” said FBR officials, adding that the duty tax was not submitted despite the accounts being restored last month.

A PIA spokesperson has said that freezing of bank accounts will not affect PIA’s flight operations.

“There is contact at the government level. PIA’s accounts will be restored soon,” the spokesperson added.