FBR freezes PIA bank accounts 

Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has frozen bank accounts of THE Pakistan International Airlines.

According to the sources, the FBR has frozen 50 bank accounts of the PIA in different cities for not paying excise duty it collected on air tickets.

“PIA collected Rs4 billion in Federal Excise Duty on tickets but did not pay it to the FBR for two years,” the FBR sources said adding that Rs460 million has been recovered through frozen accounts of PIA.

The accounts will be frozen until the PIA becomes responsible for the remaining amount.

Meanwhile, the PIA spokesperson denied all allegations, saying the PIA has cleared Rs4.1 billion dues in 2021 despite a hard time with Covid-19 related restrictions.

Later, Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin intervened by making phone calls to the FBR chairman and the CEO of PIA. He directed them to meet and fix the issue.