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PIA draws celebrities’ ire for focusing on cabin crew’s undergarments rather than plane safety

PIA draws celebrities’ ire for focusing on cabin crew’s undergarments rather than plane safety

Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, RJ Anoushey Ashraf and actor Adnan Siddiqui were among those who criticised the airline's priorities.
30 Sep, 2022

An internal memo issued by PIA in which it directed cabin crew to dress in formal clothes over “proper undergarments” when not on planes has struck a nerve online with angry netizens who are pointing out that the airline has its priorities all messed up and needs to focus on improving its services instead. Among those who voiced their concerns over the development were filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, RJ Anoushey Ashraf and actor Adnan Siddiqui.

On Friday, the Ms Marvel director shared a screenshot from The Express Tribune’s article on the memo and wrote, “Our national airline has one million problems and let me say the way its women dress doesn’t even make that list — this is what happens when misogynist men get promoted.” She referred to a line that claimed the GM of flight services, Aamir Bashir, had observed the cabin crew’s attire and continued, “We can share this list with Aamir Bashir if he has trouble coming up with his own.”

“When you have planes that barely function and corruption so deep that all the passengers safety is the last thing on your mind but you have the audacity to worry about the ‘image’ of the airline because of the way women choose to dress off-duty,” wrote Ashraf under a news post on the story.

Prodding them to get over women and their choices, she pointed out that uniforms and hygiene being included in the rules may be fair, but hyper-fixating on women’s clothing isn’t. “Get your mind out of the gutter and use it for something that can actually help make the airline better.”

Echoing her words was Siddiqui, who asked the airline to get its priorities straight. “Instead of moral policing the cabin crew, the PIA should rather invest its energy in improving the infrastructure, safety and service standards.”

What happened

PIA issued an internal circular to cabin crew titled “Cabin Crew Dress Code for Surface Travel, Hotel Stay and Visit to Offices” on Monday, a copy of which is available with Images. It raised a concern that a few members from the crew “tend to dress casually while travelling intercity” which “leaves a poor impression”. To avoid soiling the image of the individual and the organisation, Bashir, who signed the note at the end, directed the crew to be “properly dressed in plain clothes which are formal and are worn over proper undergarments”.

“The clothing worn by males and females should be in accordance with our cultural and national morals,” the letter specified. There will be checks by TCPs, SPs, LCCs and Grooming Officers — all of whom were CC-ed — who are to monitor the crew “at all times and report any deviation”.

“PIA crew is the representation of the airline itself,” a PIA spokesperson told Images. “There is a proper guideline for the crew to present itself in proper and culturally sensitive attire, specially in public places, during their international and domestic travel. The circular is in continuation of that guideline and is for both male and female members of the crew,” they said.

Comments

Enlightened One Sep 30, 2022 05:12pm
The moral decay of Pakistani society is deep and well entrenched.
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MA Sep 30, 2022 05:13pm
I can't find anything wrong in that notice. It is addressed to both men and women. These celebrities needs attention for nothing.
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Syed Nadeem Masood Sep 30, 2022 05:30pm
Dress code ethics are important equally for both genders. This slackness is reflected across almost all organizations irrespective of the industry. Need is dire and should focus on sober and comfortable dressing which has good feel and positive impact on output and productivity. e.g. definition of smart casuals people need to be respectfully educated on what to choose to wear and what color. etc.
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Ali B Sep 30, 2022 05:34pm
The dress code circular seems as if it has come from a prison guard asking prisoners to dress up as per his liking.
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Mahmood Sep 30, 2022 05:34pm
PIA crew is supposed to wear undergarments, when not on flight duty or on off days?? Sounds like an invasion of privacy and personal choce.
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LOL Sep 30, 2022 05:58pm
They should also have strict uniform codes at home as well.
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Khaled Sep 30, 2022 06:12pm
Absurd, the PIA management need to be examined by a phycologist.
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NYS Sep 30, 2022 06:16pm
Forensic audit important where you need to take country and folks on the right track
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Mansur Ul Haque Sep 30, 2022 06:27pm
What was the need to make undergarments issue public. Afghanistan,Iran and now Pakistan see problem erupting regarding women dress.
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Ehsan Sep 30, 2022 06:35pm
Moral policing result of hyper religiosity and hypocrisy pervasive in our society
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Ahmed Sep 30, 2022 06:36pm
Everything needs to be focused on. When so no someone speaks on corruption why don't you call him out for not speaking against rape? Every airline has a dress code. Ours is dictated by our own moral code. PIA is right.
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Pak Patriot Sep 30, 2022 06:40pm
" should be in accordance with our cultural and national morals,” the letter specified. " G M of Flight Services Mr Aamir Bashir, do PIA Executives make a BIG Shor Shar, when our Cultural and National Morals are turned Upside Down with BIG CORRUPTION ? WHERE IS PIA'S MORAL POLICE then ? THIS WHAT YOU GET WHEN BABOOS & PAINDOOS ARE APPOINTED TO BIG POSTS. THEIR THINKING IS VERY LIMITED.
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Anonymouseee Sep 30, 2022 06:40pm
Some air hostesses indeed wear very shabby clothes with no beer garments. It makes me and my family feel very uneasy when traveling. It’s common courtesy and common sense to dress decently.
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Alam Khan Sep 30, 2022 06:50pm
Cant believe someone could wear clothes without undergarments ! It is very basic thing .
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M. Saeed Sep 30, 2022 06:53pm
Next time expect a circular, directing the cabin crew to come prepared after taking gastric prescriptions, so as not to make the cabin unbreathable due to their uncontrolled flatulences>>>>
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Ehsan Sep 30, 2022 07:17pm
This mentality is the reason why the country is regressing
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Amir Sep 30, 2022 07:18pm
OMG! Don't the PIA 'personnel!' have anything better to do, e.g., run the AIRLINE efficiently!
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Sean Mirza Sep 30, 2022 07:39pm
There is nothing wrong with the memo. The airline must have observed something which led to this directive, and those objecting obviously were not privy to that since they don’t work for PIA. As to. Million other problems, issuing this memo and paying attention to other problems is not mutually exclusive. All issues can and should be handled.
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Pops Sep 30, 2022 07:42pm
Ask them to stop shoplifting as well when not on duty. PIA air hostess was prosecuted in France for shop lifting.
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Justice Sep 30, 2022 07:49pm
PIA is the most undesirable airlines. It should first address safety, security, cleanliness and pilot licensing issues.
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M. Saeed Sep 30, 2022 08:24pm
@Enlightened Ones are not doing their duties right!
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M. Saeed Sep 30, 2022 08:25pm
@MA but, first the airline should be well dressed and healthy in every field.
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venob Sep 30, 2022 08:34pm
Is this another way of luring passangers to travel in PIA? sad state!
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Aamir Latif Sep 30, 2022 08:52pm
Notification to cabin crew may be too harsh but why this attitude by PIA crew in first case, is it not inappropriate to work without these clothing in plane.... Let's not confuse with plane safety and other aspects of performance, they are definitely critical but cannot ignore such nonsemce either
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Aamir Latif Sep 30, 2022 08:55pm
Celebrities should instead focus on their attires which they try to copy from west but cannot handle it either with bare shoulders etc during award shows
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M. Afzal Riaz, MD Sep 30, 2022 08:59pm
Need to privitize airline. Only solution to improve it and cut loses
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its me Sep 30, 2022 09:41pm
we Pakistanis are very unfortunate to have such so-called artists.
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PakSarZameen Sep 30, 2022 09:41pm
How about PIA should remove the cabin crew altogether.
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Mohsin Sep 30, 2022 09:44pm
Fix the airlines problems first and then worry about dress code
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Sonny Sep 30, 2022 09:46pm
Pakistan has got it's priorities right ! "Dressing instructions for women and moral policing" over Best Service / Economic and national disaster worries !
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its me Sep 30, 2022 09:46pm
Low life artists, low life comments!
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FAZ Sep 30, 2022 10:40pm
So now those who didn't notice will focus more!
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Charles Sep 30, 2022 11:18pm
PIA Pilots and air hostess doesn't wear undergarments? What a shame.
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JAVED JAN BALOCH Sep 30, 2022 11:56pm
This men is out of his senses if he thinks this plan is going to work, please ask him to start this from your home.
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Khan Oct 01, 2022 12:09am
The irony that PIA management thinks they have very good image "attendant was ruining PIA Image". I chose to fly PIA once in 2010 in a brand new aquired plane, some one in the managmeent thought they should put pathetic seat covers like 90's buses on all seats so they can earn their extra bucks, food was worse than street food cart. It has never crosses my mind even once to fly it again even if its for free.
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Syed Hafeez Imran Oct 01, 2022 12:13am
May I have the temerity to ask the worthwhile GM one question How does anybody recognise that a woman a PIA hostess when she is not in uniform or on active duty?
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Asim Oct 01, 2022 12:33am
There is a clear disconnect between the memo and reactions.
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MAFK Oct 01, 2022 12:39am
Issue is celebrities not PIA notice.
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abdul Oct 01, 2022 01:16am
The person who signed the circular is majority of Pakistan mentally. That is why the country is where the country is.
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Multani Oct 01, 2022 01:23am
Dress code is very important part of air cabin crew, both under garments and dress matters for both male and female and should be checked for non compliance, and penalized for non compliance, safety matters but dress too.
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Multani Oct 01, 2022 01:30am
No one will fly in PIA if crew is not spotless both inside and outside dress, we already have suffered so much on poor safety let’s not add more problems to our national carrier.
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Azaad Oct 01, 2022 01:40am
But were the staff not wearing undergarments? And how did the management know? Seems a bit of a joke.
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A Khan Oct 01, 2022 02:17am
A thousand other things wrong with PIA but lack of proper attire when off-duty is certainly not one of them.
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Mujtaba Oct 01, 2022 02:53am
No doubt that there are many aspects and standards need to improve for bringing a positive n productive impacts. No one can deny or justify the operstional weaknesses of national institution. BUT to me, the issued directives isn't unjustified as well because employees while doing their job/ duty are the goodwill ambessador of their families n social communities from where they belong; similarly, when they are at their homes and/ or among their communities, they are representing their employer n its organizational culture as well.....it's two fold sword. An individual should maintain a balance between his/her roles while on job and while at home. Having aforementioned expressions, I would not endorse the critiques' remarks which are nothing but an attempt to create a gender biased exploitation. Our cultural values n social norms should remain in mind as well while presenting own n self acclaimed wisdom.
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Mujtaba Oct 01, 2022 03:04am
@Pak Patriot One wrong act can't be justified with other one. Importantly, a right logic / argument can't justify to a wrong deed / act. Not mitigating corrupt practices and financial losses does not mean to leave other wrong values untill to resolve the financial corruption(s). Unfollowing and non adherence to the organizational cultural n corporate values with true letter n spirit is also a kind of corruption.
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Mujtaba Oct 01, 2022 03:10am
@Mahmood In an organizational culture, each n every employee has to follow the executive directions; otherwise, organizational administration has to play her vital role in maintaing discipline and the corporate image as well. Nothing personal in the issued directive.
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Isthisreal Oct 01, 2022 03:11am
Look. Bras are a relatively recent thing and tbh I think it's rather unnatural. Especially in hot and humid weather, have a very tight garment with harnesses holding the chest sounds very uncomfortable. We are created the way we are and decent loose fitting clothing should suffice for both men and women. Aren't us men supposed to mind our business and not focus on the women's anatomy so much? Think about it..be fair and reasonable. We are all humans after all.
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GreatestIdea Oct 01, 2022 03:19am
@Alam Khan traditional shalwar kameez is designed to be worn without undergarments
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adminOfMyself Oct 01, 2022 03:25am
We just get obsessed with Women's body and anatomy, start thinking too much about certain bits. Let's stop this hypocrisy and let people live.
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Mir Oct 01, 2022 03:32am
The Mulla mentality now in national Airline .Instead of women under garment ,the management should concentrate on improving flight services.
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Sami Oct 01, 2022 04:28am
It was only a matter of time before the Iranian and Taliban regimes find morality police recruits in Pakistan.
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Syed Qutub Oct 01, 2022 05:07am
I am shocked that men and women need to be reminded to wear underwear.
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pakOne Oct 01, 2022 05:41am
I always chose my Airlines based on the way their air hostess aunties dress off duty. Don't you?
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Chacha Oct 01, 2022 07:30am
Nothing wrong in the memo, management may have been informed about crew not wearing undergarments.
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ENGR Hamid Shafiq Oct 01, 2022 07:49am
Pakistani air hostess poorest in world compare with GCC airlines
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Jaweed Oct 01, 2022 08:18am
These celebrities only care about their relevance. When you work for an organisation you are its representative 24/7. Are expected to be impeccable as required.
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Ali Oct 01, 2022 08:21am
Adnan saddiqe should keep his opinion to himself. He has no moral values when he went to promote his movie and met nawaz sharief
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Tamza Oct 01, 2022 08:58am
Hijab required?
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Khaled Oct 01, 2022 10:40am
@Ali. How can you be the judge of his moral values. Realising their folly PIA has withdrawn the notification.
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Abid zaman Oct 01, 2022 10:54am
correct,it has more important things like staffing,untrained pilots and of course over staffed.our politicians have employed their near and dear and has raised the ratio of plane to employees to more than 500.
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R Oct 01, 2022 11:01am
But who the immoral gonna sneak peek.
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IsthisReal Oct 01, 2022 11:04am
@Chacha question is who is taking a peep at their undies??
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GettingThere Oct 01, 2022 11:05am
@Mujtaba but the memo is referring to off duty time..
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John Malik Oct 01, 2022 11:13am
Photo please
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Dr Syed Oct 01, 2022 11:50am
PIA did the right thing. These so called celebrities and other neo liberalist have made a habit of criticizing every moral thing by comparing apples with oranges.
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Robin Mitha Oct 01, 2022 12:08pm
The most important question that should cone to mind is the legality of such a notice, can PIA or for that matter any other employer direct employees on their personal life while off duty ? When the notice was being drafted wasn't the HR or Legal departments consulted ? If so didn't they make it clear that what employees do in their off duty hours is none of the Company's business .
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ABE Oct 01, 2022 12:10pm
@Mujtaba " In an organizational culture, each n every employee has to follow the executive directions;" Really?? If that is so, then why didn't we see all Trump supporters show up at his rallies, wearing a suit and red tie?? Or why don't all the Meta (yformerly Facebook) employees, don a grey sweatshirt with a hoody , like the founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg - despite his hundreds of $Billions?? No organization has a right to impose rules on their employees on their days off, free time or when not present on official premises. If a nation or organization is to impose the preferences of the executive branch, then why do we see citizens of Gulf nations, traveling abroad, dressed in pants and T-shirts, while most of the rulers of these nations, only wear traditional garb all in White??
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ABE Oct 01, 2022 12:33pm
Those invoking ''executive directives" on employees of an organization, when not on duty or away from official facilities, consider the best executive in the universe. Did he not forbit all mankind against lying, killing, adultery, coveting your neighbor's wife (or her boys) etc etc.... Yet, there have been far more scandals of child molestations, in the Catholic Church, where the Pope himself had to apologize for the wrongs of priests and for the church's coverups for their crimes and sins. How's that for an image of an organization?? No one talks about Executive, but PIA management is concerned if an airhostess, wears a bra when she goes shopping near home.
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Falcon1 Oct 01, 2022 01:17pm
@Mujtaba "administration has to play her vital role in maintaing discipline and the corporate image as well" So where was the PIA Admin, when PIA employees were openly sacrificing black goat on the tarmac, in front of the PIA crew, passengers, Airport admin and security?? How did that work for PIA's corporate image?? Did we even hear any admonition or reprimand from the PIA executives over this stupid practice and further damage to its already tattered reputation and international image??
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Uzair Oct 01, 2022 04:54pm
Dress code and uniform is reasonably applicable during official duty, without any moral connotation. Interference outside official duty is however an over-reach, same goes for moral connotations. However as part of workplace discipline, PIA is in right to have a dress and uniform code.
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