Initially registered as a pilot project in Calcutta, Orient Airways Ltd, created on 23rd October 1946, had at its helm M A Ispahani as Chairman. The carrier's base remained in Calcutta and four Douglas DC-3s were purchased in February 1947. The designated route was Calcutta-Akyab-Rangoon, the first post-war international sector to be flown by an airline registered in India. In 1955, the government decided to form a state-owned airline and invited Orient Airways to merge with it. The outcome of the merger was the birth of a new airline, through the PIAC Ordinance 1955.
This August, The Express Tribune will feature photographs from contributions to an open call for images from the struggle for independence and Pakistan’s formative years.
PHOTO & TEXT: PAKISTAN PICTORIAL/ TWO YEARS OF PEOPLE’S RULE
CONCEPT: SANAM MAHER
DESIGN: SAMRA AMIR
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2014.
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@AJamal: Well said. I totally agree with u.Natoionalization of private businesses was disastrous it shattered investors confidence putting Pakistan progress at halt.
@Moiz Omar: Easy to know. In the early 1970s almost everything was nationalized to provide employment to political workers. And every nationalized institution was destroyed.
The 1950s and 1960s were the best years of PIA. Shame on how it has lost it's glory.
NOT A SINGLE BURQA or ABBAYA in the photo. what year was this?