A recent report has revealed why the profit-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) went into loss during Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) government.

An audit report of the airline has pointed out that 46 flights from Islamabad airport were operated without a single passenger aboard during 2016-17. Due to this mismanagement, the national airline suffered a loss of Rs. 180 million.

Thirty-six empty flights were operated on Hajj and Umrah routes in one year. No inquiry was initiated despite several reminders and calls to attention, the report said.

The issue, tagged as “negligence” in the official documents, was swept under the carpet.

Due to mismanagement and corruption scandals, the national flag carrier faced the worst crisis in its history and was on the verge of privatization. The new administration had to fire at least 1000 employees, including hundreds of ghost employees, to cut the operational cost and keep PIA afloat.