KARACHI May 26: After a lapse of 20 years, some 19 foreign airhostesses were inducted into the cabin crew of the Pakistan International Airlines to overcome the language barrier on international flights and to portray a progressive and global face of the airline.

These airhostesses from Malaysia and Thailand were inducted into the cabin crew of the national flag carrier at a passing out ceremony of the first batch of foreign flight stewardesses held at the airline's training centre on Friday.

They airhostesses will be deputed on PIA flights to their respective countries.

The PIA has started a campaign for hiring foreign airhostesses from numerous international destinations where its flights operate.

Interviews for hiring native airhostesses have so far been conducted in Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Norway, Greece, Kenya and Germany with other countries in the pipeline.

Addressing the passing out ceremony, the PIA's Deputy Managing Director, Farooq Hussain Shah, said that the induction of foreign flight stewardesses was in line with the PIA's vision to become a truly world class carrier.—Online