
Stylised Urdu script PIA initials introduced in 1976 - Copyright PIA
Since long time I had been trying to find info about the designer of stylized Urdu script PIA initials introduced for the first time in 1976 on airline’s green & gold livery designed by Negus & Negus of London. Finally, the answer came from former Managing Director PIA Arif Ali Khan Abbasi in talk show ‘Lucman Dot Com’ aired on BusinessPlus.TV on Thursday (November 23, 2006). It was surprising for me when Mr. Abbasi told the show host Mubasher Lucman that the stylized Urdu script PIA initials were designed by a London-based Chinese artist for Negus & Negus company.

Managing Director PIA Arif Ali Khan Abbasi (4th from left) at airlines' Best Cabin Crew Award Distribution Ceremony in 1990s - Copyright © Wahab Khan
Mr. Abbasi said that green & gold livery’s all green tail with white PIA on it was more recognizable than Swissair tail at international airports around the world. He also talked about 1990s sporty livery which was also designed by Negus & Negus. He told the show host that wife of Negus & Negus owner played important role in running the London-based company and upon her death the owner of Negus & Negus decided to shut down the company.
Mr. Abbasi discussed rise and fall of PIA’s various departments including engineering, finance, marketing and reservation. He mentioned ticketing/reservation software jointly developed by PIA & KLM in the 1980s and said that the software was not only used by PIA and KLM but also purchased by other airlines including Alitalia. PIA fleet and issue of EU restrictions on PIA aircraft were also discussed. Cabin crew uniform and province tails recently introduced by the airline also came under discussion. Like myself, Mr. Abbasi supports one standard tail for all aircraft of Pakistan’s national flag carrier. While discussing PIA's old slogan 'Great People to Fly With', Mr. Abbasi said that airline's current slogan 'Come Fly With Us' is copied from United Airlines slogan 'Come Fly With Me'. He also discussed PIA route network, purchase of aircraft, political appointments in the airline, PIA’s role in formation of airlines like Alia, Air Malta, Emirates, Singapore Airlines etc, and many other issues related to PIA.
It was a great show, very well hosted by Mubasher Lucman, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and found it very informative for a PIA enthusiast like myself.
Abbas