Let CPEC start. There will not be a need to go anywhere outside of Pakistan.

Complain to UN and China

Wow..!!! Again!!

Conspiracy against Pakistan. Be careful if you are traveling overseas. Rest of the world is jealous of the CPEC.

Drugs and contrabands of course. You are going down PIA, when even the travel agents advise their clients to choose another airline instead of PIA.

Phobia !! What else when they were released in time ?

These first world countries will always discriminate.Time to cooperate to move south asia forward.

No respect for PIA anymore..

There goes our rock solid reputation again.

@Raaz turkey and north korea too !

@Raaz or ICJ

Drugs must have been suspected on board! No surprises when it comes to PIA.

Britain is not oic to overlook all issues .

What an embarrassing incident for PIA and Pakistan!

What a reputation!

This shows the amount of International reputation Pakistan has overseas.

They were carrying jihadists hence these "extra "checking.

I am surprised that there was no protest. Doesn't it show the crew in poor light. If they are guilty indeed, why were they let go. If they weren't why wasn;t there any protest?

Void of self respect

From earnings of CPEC, Pakistan will give loans to US, KSA, China, Russia but not to UK now.

PIA should be privatised and allowed to compete with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. This will make them professional and will not hurt image of the country.

Security Threats....!!!

Understandable

PIA has yet to reach low point. It's what world sees us as lowlife who has no self respect. Why these things happens to us. Will we ever learn from our mistakes.

Last time when the crew was caught i had sympathy ,but now it seems they are like the present top cream politicians in pakistan .

All because of pakistani reputation! Who said pakistan is isolated???

Gross indiscipline has become almost part of losss making PIA ever since controversial cronies with hardly any educational background have been nominated by successive political and non political governments. If corrective surgical operation is not carried out PIA may end up with severe sanctions. If you review the three highlighted incidents involving pilots they all have a history of indiscipline. There are over 350 with fake degrees employed in thus airline

If PIA didn't improve its image and performance very soon it will barred by Europian Union

Wow PIA is becoming world famous for all the wrong reasons !!

UK-Wait for CPEC

Pls protest or punish

Brand Pakistan --- this how it is viewed in the real world

Soon PIA will be on list of banned airlines.

Very good!!

@Mohajir

"From earnings of CPEC, Pakistan will give loans to US, KSA, China, Russia but not to UK now."

Brilliant!!!!!!!!

In case PIA staff is involved in smuggling then source of these items should be traced there is no point of only punishing carriers and closing down the case.

@Raaz Obviously you are hurting. What's the matter .... unable to isolate Pakistan !!

From the view of the world, Day by day the gap between India and Pakistan is widing. perhaps it can be considered not a big issue. But it shows how Pakistan is being trated in overseas. On the other hand India is thriving in overseas. This can be either completely good or bad for whole south Asian region

Very poor performance. Why this people doesn't remember that, their foolish behavior defame a whole country ?

@tomUHTO TAWMAYTO Please consider loan to neighboring countries also other than US, Russia etc.

Another milestone Pakistan, keep it up

No... CPEC will solve the problem

Safety and security is above all. No need to get emotion. every pakistani is a suspect in the eyes of world except china.

@AbbU And before CPEC, what was the cause behind any conspiracy ??

One segment in PIA has ruined the airline and caused nefarious reputation globally.

PIA is disliked even by Pakistanis but some people are like an ostrich behavior putting blame on other factors. P IA and likewise thousands of our institutions are working just like that. They never like to work according to the demand of the profession and they never set peoples safety and welfare as their targets.

@Mohajir And who's going to pay the $50 billion loan debt and the rest back to China? :) The only thing Pakistan will be doing for the next 25-35 years is 'taking' loans, not 'giving' them.

I will just stick to flying with Emirates.

@Mohajir: What about loan to India?

They deserve it.

It is an act of harassment.

Criminals escaped this time !!!! Will be caught some day..

@Vijay from Atlanta Yes, it will. China is not being digested by the so called super powers of the world. Everything that has a rise hath a fall. Just wait! It is your turn now~

UN should hold a plebiscite to know why it was done, & China should move the security council. India is behind all these. Kashmir problem should be solved this is the main reason for this.

@Spaihi, people know how good Indian airline is.

It is flight or BUS ...hahahahaha

"In January, as many as seven passengers were forced to stand throughout the over three-hour flight from Karachi to Madina after the airline boarded excess passengers in a serious breach of air safety regulations."

Great going Pakistan...

I never traveled to Pakistan via PIA for the last 10 years and continue to do so for the next 100 years.

@AbbU actually its cause the rest of the world is sick of Pakistanis.

Embarrasing

Smuggling and PIA go together. Well done UK authorities. Check them on regular basis.

Why always PIA.

CPEC zindabad

Dunno know why our authorities not introducing strong consequences against such illegal actions or unprofessional behaviors of our national flag carrier employees?.

Please shutdown this nonsense PIA. It always bring bad name to Pakistan.

@Mohajir last I heard Pakistan got loads of loan to first pay from the income of CPEC - whenever it happens.. so "Pakistan giving loans to US, UK and KSA" seem a bit far fetched doesn't it ?

Don't worry. China has already brought stock exchange and instead of hue and cry, you partied. So another party time coming soon as China will buy out PIA and change it to China Airlines.

@Usman KHan ok "waiting for CPEC" Pls tell how long to wait and what will happen at the end of that wait?

It is strange that such incidents only occur with PIA originated from Lahore and Islamabad. We don't think it happens only due to security reasons but money laundering in supervision of pakistani elites, already known to the Scotland Yard.

What a shame! Nawaz Sharif have destroyed the institutional integrity by appointing is favourite people without merit

Great, Keeps repeating .

Better let the Cinese run your planes...let the pilots and crew play video games at home...what a screwed up nation...

PIA reflects our incompetent government.

In result of CPEC development the whole world is behind Pakistan and strives to disgust respectable nation and its seven star airliner by any means at times.

It is almost laughable how everything is linked to CPEC.

@Mohajir: Sure, if there is any earning after repayment of the installments.

@Mohajir ahah nice

Please check Craig's list Manhattan NY. There are 2 or 3 regular PIA hostesses soliciting frequently as escorts. They are brazen to say they are PIA hostesses looking for extra income. Action must be taken soon..

@Mohajir there is nothing to do with country here, don't you remember what happened to shahrukh khan on US airport?

Rename "Pakistan International Airlines" to "China Pakistan International Airlines", the world will be jealous of it

This is so embarrassing!!

@Raaz yes complain to UN and China......Pakistan is like a crying child...Seeking mercy everywhere

How can the PIA guys act and behave differently from the guys ruling the country? ( not just the politicians but all elite: generals, bureaucrats, judges, politicians ... )

@Balakrishnan @tomUHTO TAWMAYTO Please consider loan to neighboring countries also other than US, Russia etc.

Please forgive us. We do not want any loan from China-Pak Economically Corrupted rout!

Now you see your value. CPEC will only add to this humiliation in the long term

Bring PIA under CPEC

Even laurel and hardy can do a better job.

@AbbU Nobody is jealous of CPEC. We are habitual of giving unnecessary importance to ourselves by thinking that everyone is jealous of CPEC and just constantly thinking of Pakistan. CPEC will be a game changer but it will bring its drawbacks and there will be a time when we as a national would not be able to take decisions because of the liabilities and favours we are taking now in terms of loans and agreements with undisclosed details.

@TAM There is no sign of any improvement. I have been travelling for the last 50 years. We are used to blame some body else for our shortcomings , never accept the simple conclusion that we need to put our house in order. If it were the first time, one can find some kind of rational , but frequency of such exposures must ring a bell in the political domain. For once, make the recruitment apparent and cut out the political appointees. It is not acceptable, lives of passengers can not be left to the indiscipline of the staff. For the last a few years I have stopped using PIA for unacceptable attitude of the people who are supposed to serve you behaving as if they are high and mighty .

Mismanagement and corruption in PIA has been going on for decades. Why has successive Governments of Pakistan failed to take any action? I fear CPEC will suffer same fate unless lessons are learnt.

@Mohajir : Add India also in no loan list, out of massive revenue from CPEC..

Well done British Authorities.

Our respect in the west ! Shameful !

It seem to be an orchestrated bashing of the national airlines and the crew so that it can be disposed off at a throw away price as well other airlines completely fetch the international business from Pakistan.Request to employees of PIAC to prove otherwise with their service and unity.

I WOULD NEVER TRAVEL WITH PIA.!

@NARADA MUNI : The PIA ladies are spoiling the name too by escorting, and also shoplifting..

How can they treat like us when CPEC is getting developed in our country!!!

@Arif javed ..Don't insult my country on the internet,if you really want to insult Pakistan then go out and do it to the face of a Pakistani then you will get an answer that you deserve!.

Shame on all those politicians and others decision makers who still keep this white elephant cum symbol of national disgrace and not privatizing it.

There's a whole department in PIA headquarters for its image making. What are they doing that such image damaging issues crop up so frequently?

I travelled on this flight (PK-785) yesterday from Islamabad to London Heathrow , there are a number of details in this story that aren't factually correct, firstly PK-785 landed at 5:42pm and not at 2:50pm as stated in the story on Monday 15/05/17 (yesterday) without incident. I disembarked the plane without any delays even though I was sat at the tail end of the plane. I went through immigration (with my Pakistani passport) and collected my luggage without incident and was in the arrivals Hall at Heathrow Terminal 3 by 6:20pm. I witnessed a number of crew members in the arrivals hall around the same time and hence do not believe that a 2hr detention has any factual basis. Even though I am not the most patriotic of Pakistanis I still, however, believe that news which is defamatory to our national flag carrier and hence to Pakistan should be fact checked properly before being published as news stories such as these have an impact on our already heavily tainted national Image.

PIA and it's staff is a disgrace should be banned in UK and Europe.

Let CPEC complete, we will take revenge from every body.

JIT should be formed to dig in the issue, this must have influence as what we see in Karachi ;)

Once upon a time there was a PIA having good repute at international level and was considered for travelling from foreigners due to its esteemed service but now the department is losing its integrity and service due to poor performance. detention of its crew abroad is causing bad for the country. Reason behind it is political appointment in the PIA since 1988. Extra and over political appointments were made by deputing political influenced person its head even the person was not completing required criteria of post such tactics were used to appoint the other staff even they were not having required qualification and standard. Recently its chairman Mr. seghal was removed who was also political appointment. All state institutions performance is going down day by day. Budgets are misused with the name of adjustment or substandard work is done or own vendors are attacked while bidding, honorable supreme court may take sou moto on this otherwise there is no hope of betterment.

This is a routine exercise by British civil aviation and security authorities.We are not the only Airline that has gone through this check. I believe PIA spokesman should give responsible statement after inquiring with the crew and British authorities.

Isn't smuggling and money laundering criminal offence in Pakistan? It is so in every part of the world. If sacking is the only option, then air crew will do a once in a life time smuggling and settle happily after being sacked. Instead they should be tried in courts and put in jail if convicted.

What a shame?

In fact, this is exactly what happens when you become so weak and meek that a small Island nation, less than half your size and population, can dare to detain your national airline's staff and aircraft after landing on its land, without any formal charge and or a tangible reason.

It merits mention at this crucial juncture in time and history that in all the so-called civilized nations of the world which the U.K. claims to be a top member of, one is first informed of and appraised about his or her crime or charges before taking taking him or her into any type of custody including the belongings.

Does anyone in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has the guts and the grit to do the same to a British Airways plane and staff after landing on the Pakistani soil?

The answer to this intriguing and interesting question is left at the discretion of the enlightened, educated, enduring, exclusive and excelling readers and writers of this great DAWN forum.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Read your great tome, word by word, patinetly

This is a new low for PIA :(

weak rulers

Due to rulers

Shows performance of the sitting government in conserving the image the the state carriers.

The rules must be strictly observed.

Here it goes again. It simply shows that PIA authority is not serious in fixing their personnel attitude problem OR simply they are incompetent.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, unfortunately, our foreign image maker PIA comprise also of the same people who live in this nation, like chips of the same block. We cannot improve without a thorough genetic change of better building block.

Shame on pia management

@Mohajir get off your pessimistic horse. If the CPEC was signed by MQM it would great, right. The people like will stay negative and unhappy with their lives.

To Indians: our internal matter, stay out! You're word isn't invited or appreciated. To PK govt: do something about PIA!!!

Can't say I blame the British on this. PIA crew first caught shoplifting and smuggling on prior occaisions.

Not mention the recent incident of a Chinese passenger allowed inside the cockpit.

Another embarrassing mess created by the national carrier. Is there now limit to the amount of shame PIA is allowed in Pakistan?

@Muhammad Jamil friend you are grossly mistaken .. you need to understand difference between investment against loan. What China is doing is not an investment. The ROI is very high for China by giving Loan. Unfortunately you guys will end up repaying through your nose. And remember any loan is a liability, just prey to god that it generates enough employment else it would be nightmare for future generations of Pakistan.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad I have experienced shameful behavior at Islamabad airport and that is only the tip of the ice-burg as you might say about other institutions of our nation. There is no proper law enforcement.
I respect what you are saying but we invite others to treat us like. We should be sincere and correct our own wrong doing first and demand our Government to take severe action against PIA and individual.

Now, that's a NEW LOW even for PIA.

Recent news claimed to have found heroin on the PIA plane. I seriously doubt this incident. How come heroin ended up on the plane despite all the security at our airports!! I can smell conspiracy to somehow privatise PIA for peanuts and take control of PIA assets overseas.

@AKKS WELL DESERVED AND EARNED.

and its keep on coming - thank you Nawaz Sharief and cronies .

You can't blame PIA alone, it is just one of many examples of the nature of Pakistani society that has long done away with any regard for rules, law, ethics, morals, decency and societal norms. Whether it is politicians, bureaucrats, police, courts, airlines, businessmen, bankers or civilians, it is the same old story.

Interesting comments..What CPEC has to do with it..besides how CPEC will benefit average Pakistanis remains to be seen..quit living in wonderland ...Wonderland was wonderful, but without a counterbalance, it could turn it's inhabitants completely insane.

Pathetic Indifferent Airlines (PIA) has earned its disrespect all over the world because of its bad employees, incompetent & corrupt management under the patronage of criminal politicians. Disgusting airline.

PIA was such a good airline before but now it has been spoiled so much. Put it under military control or privatize it or do something.

Great Staff to fly with....

@Kashif Mind blowing and rational comment.

PIA crew and their confrontation with law is as old as PIA itself. The greed of quick money is the mother of all ills.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Sir the answer to your long question is NO

From the second best airline in the world to this sorry state. Thank you all politicians. job well done

@kerala
childish comment, grow up

@Sohail : Shame on pia management..

Not just management. Pilots for sleeping on the job, and Air hostesses for escorting and shoplifting..

@Sipahi ...Nearly 29,000 Pakistanis seeking illegal passage to Europe deported by Iran in 2016..

Just termination from sevice is not enough. Try them in court if found guilty for bringing bad name to country

@AbbU you made my day!

Why anyone wasn't arrested or detained? Captain is responsible for the aircraft, why let him go? Something does not corroborate here.

PIA is face of Pakistan. This alleged incidence leaves no doubt that Pakistan is in deep trouble. Instead of clamping down drug smuggling at starting point of this flight in Pakistan, it get 'informed' to the landing point where it gets caught. This is height of irresponsibility. Everybody and anybody who touched this plane during its prep should be held responsible, no if, and or buts.

What have they done to the Airline that was awarded 'Airline of the year ' in 1976 under Noor Khan. These political recruiters have turned this into a farce. Sack all of them and start a new with clean management.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad , the small tiny nation you are talking about is actually highly developed and one of the most influential in the world.

@Bharatiya Kashmiri Good idea!!

Expecting better from ordinary citizens better then from the ruling class will always cause disappointment.

@Mohajir , Funny, Ha HA HA

The ground is being prepared to sell P.I.A.But to whom?

@AbbU haa.. haa.. CPEC is consideted magic wand when no one knows the details.. dream selling by politicans..

Its because of Zardari 's bad government and it is not interior ministry's fault.

@Bharatiya Kashmiri btw even the Pakistani Radio Station is modgaged for loan..

Like I said, more like national shame carrier than national flag carrier.

@saudagar or ICJ

pia needs to be sold/it will never improve / state owened businesses are incompetent

Zeeo creditability

Some thing to ponder; P.I.A., or the Airlines that of Pakistan. Perhaps the most religious orientated strictly adhered to airline. Prayer on the mike before take off and so on; yet the most crime and accident infected. So much so that even the own Pakistanis; when given a choice; will fly another airline.

Its like Kashmir issue lets have CPEC build fast.

@Zak - 1976...Zak you need to live in the present, not the past!

Way to go PIA. Terminate from service.

Soon pia will banned in Europe

Roshan Pakistan at its best?

Its about time this airline got sanctioned in all airports globally, this will cause the forced insolvancy of this corruption plagued company.

Please complain to OIC, China, and the UN

@Sipahi Yeah, right. The whole silk route would become drug-ridden zone.

@Sipahi you are kidding, right

And still we say corruption is not our no 1 national priority

@Imran what "security" at Pakistani airports are you talking about? corrupt system allows for things like that to happen

@zf what is "internal" about heroin smuggling across the oceans to another country?

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad British planes are NOT bringing Heroin into Pakistan

@Sipahi , good satire.

@AbbU , excellent satire.

They have started their own silk route or maybe the Chinese are doing a test run.

What a shame, PIA employees over the years brought world's best airline Down.

I feel very sorry for Pakistan. This is very bad.

Well how childish is that for crew to have drugs on board , even propoganda machine some time pass silliness beyond believe. plan is almost there to finish PIA and restart another airline but Alhudulillah its getting delayed

@Saurabh , YOU DID NOT GET THE Satire brother.

@Mohajir :"Amount"?

@NOMANSLAND : Not "Famous"---"Notorious"!

@Muhammad Jamil : If China were "digested", you know what it would be! However, you are right about the rise and fall of nations AND Ideologies!

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad British Airways plane does not come to Pakistani. So no worries.

Two comments: 1. I love the fact that CPEC is causing TREMENDOUS itch up the Indians' rectal cavity. 2. PIA: Please get your house in order and stop being an embarrassment to the country.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad And every Pakistani and Indian aspire to get visa for the Tiny country ?

Criminal mindset continues in all spheres of life in Pak. Root cause for this decease to be identified . May be Chinese acupuncture will cure this.

@Zak this is not going to happen according to your wishes

I absolutely do NOT believe a bit this British accusation.

Obviously crew was not involved otherwise there would have been a charge sheet. Was drug found "on the aircraft" and not on any passenger or crew? I am sure details will come out. Let's not jump to conclusion and start throwing PIA and/or Pakistan under the bus. Everyday, US customs and border patrol find drugs entering the country through several routes. Criminals are the same no matter where they are. So please pledge to get rid of such evils without playing the usual blame game. Just my two cents! Thanks.

First Chinese lady in cockpit now heroine.Good going PIA.

National Flag Carrier in limelight with activities as reported in the above news item!

There must be some logical reason behind all such daring acts performed by PIA and its working staff! All public sector establishments, may it be Pakistan Steel, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan International Airlines are all in competition with each other in breaking all time records in such daring acts.

Well, at times politics overrides good governance!

Wow, this in itself is quite a damning introduction of PIA: "The national carrier often comes under fire for poor performance, low safety standards and the unprofessional attitude of its staff". The unprofessionalism and breach of safety confirmed by the reports of passengers flying standing up to Medina. (imagine how stupid the safety announcement would have sounded to remain and tie the seatbelt before take off) One wonders where is Pakistan CAA? Its their job to enforce safety regulations after all. Or is PIA above the law?

@Imran what security is there at Pakistani airports?

I am worried the West is going to ban PIA from their skies.

This is one way to get rich quickly and buy flats in UK and France! No audit trail is needed!!

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad ...LOL what are movers and shakers in England saying doc?

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad -- Carrying drugs and showing audacity?! Don't forget they were your masters.

Why doesn't this surprise me ???

Just like we have accepted police taking bribes for lack of a decent income, we should also accept crew for doing whatever to make ends meet.
Sab chalta hai

@Sipahi funny!!! So after CPEC, PIA and other airlines will shut down and not required to operate?? Or did I not get your sarcasm??

Security protocols at airports need to be enhanced!

CPEC Obsession of our neighbours is highly entertaining!

First muslims were going illegally jumping the border and as refugee and now sending illegally drugs to make them addicted and PIA some employees may be supporting it from inside.

Shameful

Corruption thy name of PIA When each and every post of the once renowned airline filled with least able but party based . What can they do. When every post is appointed on the basis of bribery, cast and party chauvinism ,on political influence. And above all when there are more than the capacity employees on board who is gonna do his job ( mi rani tu rani Kon bhary pani)

Was it for in flight supply?

@ZAK Ha ha how funny

@Mohajir Well said

@AbbU it's surprising that "world jealous of CPEC" is not just ur comment but 283 of ur compatriots agree with u also ... Great !!

I am shocked when I read last para in article as below :

"The airline has taken a firm stance against corrupt practices and recently announced “termination from service” will now be the only punishment if any staffer of PIA is involved in smuggling contraband in or out of the country."

Does it mean that until now if a PIA staff was involved in contraband smuggling; he was let off with a rap on the knuckles ??? If so; then the government or whosoever owns PIA is squarely at fault for allowing such a situation & such a poor environment to be created in the first place. Could the management be indirectly involved then in some way ?

If follow the news PIA flight to and from Islamabad and Lahore are in news for illegal activities, authorities should look into the reason.

PIA Director is responsible for this embracing act.

When Interior Minister spends too much time pleasing his PM, this happens!

So Shamful.......

PIA's reputation flies faster than its planes.

Congratulations!

Let me guess..soon PIA modernization (read hostile takeover) will take place under CPEC. And some highly foresighted people here will thank China for their friendship.

@Zak to whom you are talking too?

Is this the improvement PMLN promised in their Election 2013 Manifesto to bring to PIA? What a governance disaster - every other day there is distasteful PIA story in the print media. What a disaster "the Premier Service of PIA" has been, which has now been abandoned after loss of billions of rupees - has anyone been held accountable?

Great job PIA !

Let PIA privatize and these all issues would be solved ! Incompetent and corrupt PIA is a symbol of shame and disrespect for all Pakistanis !

Need to make up for lost revenue

It is conspiracy against good name of Pakistan.

I have traveled by PIA 2 times and both times I found them to be highly unprofessional and uninterested in providing service to their passengers . They don't seem to value feedback . Schedule,pilferage ,safety ,reliability are all words that come to your head when you go down memory lane with the airline .

Pia must file suit for damaging the plane

What a stubborn spokesman of PIA? this is PIA plane, not of AFS, or custom Pakistan. you are representative of Pakistan. PIA is 100% responsible for all these acts. Even if responsible persons are from any group, gang or organization. This cannot be happened without PIA staff cooperation. PIA hostesses was involve in smuggling cases in past.

PIA makes Air India look like a thoroughly professional organisation.

Mabrook!. This is progress

Years ago I used to live in Karachi. I completed my HSc. with exclusive result . I could have got admission in any university in Karachi but I waited to get admission in the PIA aeronautical engineering college. After long wait the advertisement came. The advertisement specifically mentioned that "Karachi domicile holders need NOT apply". I was heart broken. I never fly from PIA . If I can't get a job in PIA then why should I pay them ? (I had called then though a few times asking for a ticket and then asking if, Karachi domicile holders could fly from PIA , to which the PIA ticket attendant used to feel surprised :-) Now when I read such news in the papers in Australia about PIA. I just thank God that I am not associated with such an organisation. It was a blessing in a disguise for me to not to be selected by them by being a Karachi domicile holder.

Time to start another inquiry.

BBC news - Police in the UK say a "quantity of heroin" has been found on board a plane that flew to London from Pakistan. ... They say the narcotic was distributed in bundles around different parts of the plane.

UK should take this case to Military court and punish the culprits!

it is time to shut down PIA and fire the entire PIA force. PIA employees have done nothing but malign Pakistans name all over the world. Especially, pilots are out of control.A new dedicated and honest pilot force needs to be hired. Just last few days we have heard pilots friend in cockpit, then passenger being abused and now drugs. Is this an national airline or a reject truck company?

Its funny to see how indians are so concerned about pakistan. Get a life

Sell 51% stake of PIA to Air China. Respect will come automatically.

@Bharatiya Kashmiri PIA will become biggest Airline of the world once it is own by Chinese. You must have observed China has biggest Airline in the world.

What a shame. It is so absurd and disgusting to see national carrier in such a turmoil. Corruption is everywhere.

@changez khan : I absolutely do NOT believe a bit this British accusation.

Nobody cares what you believe or not.

PIA - Report.. Airline staff beating up passengers. Chinese lady allowed in Cockpit. Pilot sleeping on the job. Standing passengers on flight. Air hostesses moonlighting as NY escorts. Air hostess caught shoplifting. Passengers caught smoking in aircraft. Passengers fighting during flight. Heroin smuggling on aircraft.

Wake up call for authorities,, sham full and disgrace to Pakistan and the nation.

Transfer all PIA emplyoees to work on organge line and lease the planes to China Airlines.

Not a surprise at all. PIA's reputation has fallen down so much that it's a degrade to call yourself a pakistani. I know of Muslims from Pakistan will say they are indian huts to get some respect. What a shame

The lure of easy money is always dangerous.

Wait for CPEC, wait for CPEC... How long... Do we have timelines??

@NARADA MUNI you seem to care tho......can I ask why the staff is released if there was heroin and I don't think you have flown before cuz if you did you would know its a norm that a pilot sleeps during long hour flights....but alas you trolls are more obsessed with CPEC than us Pakistanis are

PIA forgot to sacrifice animal before flight to UK

@Sardar suri read my thread again. PIA was the best in the world and now .......!

To chart the future, one must see the past, assess the present and plan the future. Elementary my dear Watson!

ASADABOUT 9 HOURS AGO "Two comments: 1. I love the fact that CPEC is causing TREMENDOUS itch up the Indians' rectal cavity. 2. PIA: Please get your house in order and stop being an embarrassment to the country". You are absolutely right that CPEC (Chinese Project for Economic Control of Pakistan) is giving lot of people PIA.

PIA does have a bit of a reputation in this regard.

HEIGHT OF INEFFICIENCY OR SOMETHING ELSE.....

The real action to combat criminalism is to sack the entire government employees posted at the airport responsible to check security and the drugs at the time of departure of the flight at Islamabad.We are getting criminalized as well as ordinary honest Pakistanis being treated as criminal due to such criminal activities.

Now the damages already inflicted. Lot of hardwork to be done, under efficient management. When top line become weak, all start take advantages and misuse power. Complete restructuring may be the option, which is to be considered by the highest level in government.

Very astonishing as why crew was released when heroin was found. Sounds fishy. I am sure nothing was found and authorities just stopped the crew and released them without any action. Islamabad must take action and talk to British Government and seek apology. Long live Pakistan.

'Great People to Fly With'.

I wouldn't be surprised if the airline was involved in this operation. HOWEVER, why would they risk such national pride over a small amount of drugs. We should not let these things put us off, PIA is our country's national airline and we should use it where possible. Me and my family have had various negative experiences in our travels with PIA, it is clear that the airline does not adhere to international standards of flying.

On the contrary, the Pakistani government has allowed Turkish Airline to use Karachi as an almost connecting hub for their flights to Dhaka meaning they can offer cheap fares to customers travelling to Karachi and whilst there pick up customers travelling to Dhaka. This then results in PIA not flying to full capacity which causes them to change their flight schedules. The Pakistani government really needs to start prioritising PIA over a foreign airline. This minor issue is not responsible for the overall dysfunctioning of PIA airlines (including its flight schedules in various cities, not just Karachi). The government already spends a lot of money on an airline that is consistently failing to make a profit and creating chaos for passengers on a regular basis. Which brings us back to the point that if the locals are not using the national carrier where is it supposed to get its business from? I think we all need to move on from the past and look to a brighter future.

I personally want to encourage anyone travelling to use PIA when possible. However the airline will only be profitable when overheads (e.g. excessive staff, airport fines for delayed flights, etc) are reduced and a good standard of operation is maintained.

@Jesh; Very true and very brave. But you and your family Mr Jaish must keep using your National Airlines even if you have to "stand" and go. That is what good citizens do. Never mind the various inconveniences.

@Sipahi what is it that will start , what do you think cpec is ? a machine ?, its nothing , its a huge amount of toll plaza , with that money being given to this prime minister as a bribe, a big toll plaza for the use of pakistans highway and gwadar port, so stop dreaming and get real. you deserve nawaz.

no chain of command , just chain of corruption.

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad The small island nation has a GDP of $2.9trn. Pakistan has a GDP of $245bn.You become big or small by the economic a,political and military clout you have,not by numbers alone.

Big shame, as head of state corrupt what do you accept from others.

Why was no one arrested? If they were drugs there then all the corrupt should have been arrested

@zash "can I ask why the staff is released if there was heroin and I don't think you have flown"

staff was interrogated. This is the normal investigation process when a crime is detected. It does not mean they were either guilty, or declared guilt free. If drugs are found on the aeroplane, who else would be suspected? As the investigation progresses, and they have evidence, they can come back and arrest the suspect. These countries follow a law enforcement procedure, and don't arrest people randomly or on mere suspicion. Get a life.

@a all Indian trolls on here. Before you think you are viewed with great respect, Indian airline staff in london steal food from the hotels buffet after eating. They bring empty containers and fill them up at every meal time. the hotel management sent a warning to air Indian admin here at London Heathrow and this was all over the news. So dont get too excited. You are no better!!!!

If PIA had ever taken a strict action against the drug smuggling crew, these incidents would had not surfaced again and again. These people are responsible for giving a shame to the country. Why no action is taken from top to bottom to overhaul the management?

State terrorism at its best in the guise of finding counter-bands, hashish and drugs on recent PIA flight and plane at the London's Heathrow Airport. What a silly joke?

Ever since the Zardari-Nawaz partnership, the once-great PIA is now run like a local bus. Asking "excess" passengers to stand throughout a flight, and allowing un-authorised (under international aviation rules) persons to enter the cockpit can only happen in PIA flights. I cannot believe any airline which can be as bad. Drug trafficking by airline officials, comparatively, is very "acceptable".

Shame for PIA.In recent history a number of such cases were detected in PIA at all of our International Air Ports before departure for International destinations.But the PIA proved to be too smart in hoodwinking our Custom and Intelligence Agencies.

@Saudagar worry about yours, which never had one and never will.

@Mohajir - I am not sure about "earning" but sure it will be lots of "learning".

PIA is advised to check rather double check that the flight has been searched thoroughly. After it is done, CAA should check and give final confirmation enabling the aircraft to take off.

So were they flying "high"?

@Saudagar - Rock solid. Lol :)--nice joke indeed

@irfan uk "Why was no one arrested? If they were drugs there then all the corrupt should have been arrested " They've found heroine in the plane, the staff is interrogated to find facts. If they couldn't find anyone clearly involved among them, they were released. Why should the cockpit and cabin crew be arrested, the heroine was not found in their possession. Maybe you forgot that it is the British police at Heathow airport.