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History of PIA - Pakistan International Airlines

Photo Gallery of PIA's Finest Men and Women

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad  (Copyright © Arjumand Ahmad)

This photo from 1950s shows Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad at Beirut's Carlton Hotel where PIA crew stayed in those days. Arjumand Ahmad was the first Muslim Pakistani Air Hostess of the first batch that joined PIA in 1956. Before her there were Australian & Christian Pakistani Air Hostesses working with PIA. Arjumand Ahmad after passing her Intermediate exam from Queen Marry College, Lahore, was admitted in George Washington University, Washington, D.C., where she attended specialized courses in her favorite subject Psychology, later she was granted President of United States Grant/Scholarship for higher studies at Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland. Due to her father's illness she returned to Pakistan without completing her studies. In Pakistan, because the Psychology subject was in its infancy, she did not join any job for one & half year. Then appeared an advertisement in newspapers for the job of Air Hostess in PIA for girls from educated families. One thousand girls from all over Pakistan appeared for the interview and only six were selected and again out of which only four completed the training, these four were: 1) Miss. Arjumand Ahmad, 2) Miss. Hutoxi Panthakey (a VVIP Air Hostess who died in PIA Boeing 720B crash in Cairo on May 20, 1965), 3) Miss. Shaheen and 4) Miss. Grace (she left after third day of flying due to persistent air-sickness). Due to traveling in acute pneumonia Arjumand suffered some health complications and in 1965 joined PIA's Ground Training School, Karachi, where she conducted basic training & refreshers till her retirement in 1993 after more than 27 years of service with PIA. At Ground Training School, Arjumand was affectionately called 'Aapi' by her students and from 1965 to 1993 every cabin crew has been her student!! During her flying career she flew on Super Constellation, Dakota DC-3, Convair CV-240, Vickers Viscount, Trident, Boeing 720B, Boeing 707 and as a Flight Service Instructor she trained Cabin Crew for all types of aircraft operated by PIA between 1965 and 1993


Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad  (Copyright © Arjumand Ahmad)

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad (right) and Air Hostess Naseem Feroze on arrival of a PIA Lockheed L-1049C Super Constellation flight



Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad  (Copyright © Arjumand Ahmad)

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad relaxing before a flight by reading a book in Beirut's Carlton Hotel room


Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad

Air Hostess Arjumand Ahmad  (Copyright © Arjumand Ahmad)

Early 1960s photo taken during a party given in honour of Pan American World Airways executive Mr. Johnston (sitting in centre) at PIA Ground Training School. At that time through an agreement signed between Pan American and PIA, the catering and flight services personnel of PIA were trained by Pan American instructors. Seen in this photo are: Standing From Left - Mrs. Zia Mohyeddin, Mani Alam, Jamila Paul, Khalida Rehman (second last) and Chief Air Hostess Shireen Ghauri (last). Sitting From Left - An Air Hostess from East Pakistan, Arjumand Ahmad, Miss Evan, Pan American Air Hostess and PIA cabin crew trainer Chausie Fountainer, Johnston, Safia Hussain (later became Manager Flight Service), Naseem Feroze, Kishwar Haroon-ur-Rasheed, Khalida Akhtar Khan and Office Secretary Miss. Diass




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