Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is under scrutiny after a newly released advertisement drew parallels with the Sept. 11 attacks, prompting an official investigation ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
**Pakistan Airlines Faces Backlash Over Controversial Advertisement**
**Pakistan Airlines Faces Backlash Over Controversial Advertisement**
Illustration evokes 9/11 imagery, prompting government inquiry into airline's marketing decisions.
In a shocking turn of events, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mandated an inquiry into the national airline’s controversial advertisement that many found reminiscent of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The advertisement, which aimed to herald the revival of flights to Paris by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), featured a visual depicting an airplane directed towards the Eiffel Tower with the phrase "Paris, we're coming today."
This promotional piece sparked immediate criticism across social media platforms, garnering over 21 million views on X since its posting. Renowned political analyst Ian Bremmer tweeted, "Pakistan air needs a new graphic designer," encapsulating the growing unease surrounding the advertisement. Columnist Omar R. Quraishi expressed his disbelief on social media, questioning the airline's insensitivity toward the tragic recent history involving aviation-related attacks.
The deep-seated connections between Pakistan and the 9/11 attacks, including the capture of alleged plot architect Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in the region, surfaced as context for the backlash. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the issue in Parliament, confirming that Prime Minister Sharif had requested a thorough investigation into the internal approval processes that led to this blunder.
This incident comes at a challenging time for PIA, which is struggling with financial turmoil and ongoing attempts at privatization—efforts that suffered a setback when the only bidder proposed a paltry figure of 12% of the government’s asking price.
PIA has historically navigated controversy, including a 2017 incident where ground crew members conducted a goat sacrifice on the tarmac for good fortune. Additionally, safety fears have prevented the airline from flying into markets such as the U.S. and UK. Despite these setbacks, PIA recently celebrated the resumption of Paris flights after successfully overcoming a four-year prohibition imposed by the European Union’s aviation safety authority.
