PIA probes alleged violation of UK laws by its cabin crew
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ISLAMABAD: The PIA management on Saturday said it had taken a serious note of the warning issued by the Border Force at the Heathrow Airport, London, to its cabin crew for allegedly violating the laws of the United Kingdom.
“The behaviour of the cabin crew tarnished the image of the national flag carrier and the country,” said a statement issued by the management of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The UK Border Force at the Heathrow Airport alleged that some PIA cabin crew members were involved in carrying restricted items or goods in excess of their duty-free personal allowances out of the UK.
Earlier, the Heathrow airport had issued a yellow card (warning) to the PIA for allegedly violating the laws of the United Kingdom. At an airport, an airline can be placed in any of the three categories: green (satisfactory), yellow (warning) and red (stop operating).
As the UK warned that violations would not be tolerated in future, the PIA launched an inquiry into the incident. The airline said once the facts were established, the ‘culprits’ would be punished in an exemplary manner, adding the PIA would show zero tolerance in the matter.
National flag carrier was issued warning by the United Kingdom aviation authority
“This could also lead to the termination of services of any crew member involved in the violation of laws.”
A PIA official said the prime minister had also expressed displeasure over the incident and asked for action against the guilty cabin crew members.
The PIA management is considering adopting additional measures that would put in place a strict process of crew screening at all points in Pakistan and abroad from where the airline operates.
The airline has instantly refreshed all previous instructions and protocol for crew who are embarking and disembarking international airports.
When asked to comment on the incident, PIA spokesman Hanif Rana said the government and the PIA authorities were fully cognizant of what had been reported in the media and were taking necessary steps.
He said on the directions of the PIA chairman, a person involved in the incident had already been dismissed from service. Instructions to lodge an FIR against him have been issued. The matter is still being investigated, he added.
“No laxity will be observed by PIA at any cost and stringent measures will be taken against any personnel violating the laws of the land where PIA operates.”
Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2015
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Comments (94) Closed
Mar 29, 2015 10:36am
PIA should take stringent actions against those involved in it for affecting national image.
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Mar 29, 2015 10:50am
When?
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Mar 29, 2015 10:54am
Not flying PIA anymore unfortunately.
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Mar 29, 2015 10:58am
Appoint new MD, and all will be fine.
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Mar 29, 2015 10:59am
Dear PIA , please make us proud not embarrassed
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Mar 29, 2015 11:00am
All Pakistani's should watch the program Border Security UK. In one episode they show one PIA cabin crew carrying 10000 cigarettes with him to sell on London's street.....
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Mar 29, 2015 11:26am
Shameful
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Mar 29, 2015 11:45am
@Zak Please provide more details how will appointing new MD solve all issues ailing PIA from several decades and who do you have in mind for the post .
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Mar 29, 2015 11:53am
Changing the design of uniforms should be the last on PIA's priority list with employees' professional attitude clean-up being the top priority. Start firing the culprits & you will see the change. The ground staff also should be reprimanded (may be even fired) when a customer submits a serious complain.
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Mar 29, 2015 11:57am
I tried supporting PIA once by choosing to fly with them. They didnt let me board at Heathrow, as they said the plAne leaves in 45 minutes. Myself and 10 other passengers waited there for 1.5 hours prior to that, but there wasnt anyone at PIA counters to issue boarding passes. We missed our flight, and none of the PIA staff spoke English. Even the terminal manager only spoke Punjabi. We all had to pay additional 1,500 dollars to fly to Islamabad and then take a domestic flight to Karachi. PIA is at the head of corruption, overstaffed, bad food, no service, and im sure the planes are breaking apart. No Thanks!
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Mar 29, 2015 12:04pm
Same old story; enquiry has been set up, strict action will be taken blah..blah. Meantime entire airline is down the hill, cabin and cickpit crews do regular smuggling of luxury good to keep shops supplied, is there not a single honest entity in this land of pure???
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Mar 29, 2015 12:05pm
The most common headlines in this country:
.......... will not be accepted.
.......... has ordered an investigation.
.......... has called a report within 48 hours.
.......... has appointed a committee to look into.
.......... will be dealt with harshly.
.......... a commission has been constituted.
.......... civil servants/ employees have been ordered.
.......... a fitting response shall be forthcoming.
.......... public interest shall be protected.
.......... violators shall be punished.
Have I missed any just add please. Please fold - sell PIA and save us all money and embarrassment.
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Mar 29, 2015 12:08pm
@Zak And who is that MD who will bring about the magical change in PIA fortunes and bring discipline to its staff.
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Mar 29, 2015 12:32pm
Shut down PIA completely and let Emirates run domestic flights in Pakistan using A320 or A330 planes. We are sick n tired of flying on PIA now.
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Mar 29, 2015 12:47pm
Almost all the incidents which took place were from the flights which originated or landed in Lahore and Islamabad, this sums it all
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Mar 29, 2015 01:08pm
@Fazal They will be daft if they do not conform to UK Border Agency Rules, Drugs too have been coming in. The UK will forbid the carriers to use any UK Airport and another carrier will take their place.
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Mar 29, 2015 01:13pm
I try to use other airlines when coming to pakistan as pia rates are almost double with shabby inflight service and sloppy cabin crews
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Mar 29, 2015 01:26pm
PIA is loaded with incompetent staff that got the job because they knew someone up in the hierarchy. What do you expect when corruption is all around?
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Mar 29, 2015 01:28pm
to be honest I fly PIA from New york to Karachi direct flight since last 15 years I love their service.
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Mar 29, 2015 01:33pm
Zero tolerance will only work
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Mar 29, 2015 02:08pm
Fire all the Culprits and nobody will have the courage to do it again. Appoint a MD on merit and stop interfering in the affairs of PIA especially this goes for Sharif family who consider it their own property
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Mar 29, 2015 02:10pm
@lafanga
Please see my reply. It is not difficult to improve the situation gradually if intentions are right
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Mar 29, 2015 02:32pm
We should look into the problems of our crew members who are not paid salaries and allowances according to international standard by the pia management and so they try to adopt the wrong option
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Mar 29, 2015 03:02pm
I've stopped flying PIA since the last 2 years, because of the poor service and aging (leased) aircraft that PIA has. However if PIA want to do something good, they should apologise to the individual who exposed the VIP culture in PIA (Rehman Malik incident) and as a gesture of goodwill, and replace him with the guy who originally sacked him.
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Mar 29, 2015 03:09pm
when would someone fix the blindingly obvious fixes in PIA. there should be zero tolerance for such behaviors and such staff should be imprisoned.
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Mar 29, 2015 03:13pm
“No laxity will be observed by PIA at any cost and stringent measures will be taken against any personnel violating the laws of the land where PIA operates.”
Really!
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Mar 29, 2015 03:28pm
@Karim What national image?
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Mar 29, 2015 03:31pm
@Syed can't agree any more than this.. no one tells how and when they'll do this!
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Mar 29, 2015 03:45pm
PIA may fire the guilty persons to Pacify the UK authorities and then turn around and Hire more corrupt ones. PIA corporate culture of corruption has to be addressed first.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:15pm
How can you tarnish an already fully and completely tarnished image?
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Mar 29, 2015 04:16pm
PIA should also probes alleged violation of Bangladesh laws by its cabin crew and staffs.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:17pm
@proud-winner with a heavy heart, I have opted for another airline too and do not fly with PIA anymore.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:18pm
@Irfan someone who is related to Avation, not because his affiliation with political parties. And someone who have a character, who haven't been Court Marshall.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:23pm
Why PIA management was sleeping, after fair few Warnings from Briton why no Action was taken against those Scums. Smuggling small things like Ciggreates looks and sounds very cheep by those officials who are highly paid.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:28pm
One more nail on the coffin. PIA crew smuggling activity comes often in the news but so far no action taken!
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Mar 29, 2015 04:50pm
The attitude of the staff needs to be improved they think just because they work for an airline they seem to get away with bad attitudes, i recently flew back from Cairo with Egypt Air they are a small airline the staff were wonderful i have flown first class with PIA and was shocked at the staff and their attitude with Egypt Air i also flew first class they were wonderful looked after you always polite approachable PIA staff seems to forget that a smile and a good attitude goes a long way to make a customer happy after all we are paying for their service its not for free, i think they should scrap the airline and start again it has to be an indipendent company who should run the airline without any interference for the Gov .
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Mar 29, 2015 04:52pm
What about PIA Capt Hashmi head of PALPA who was caught smuggling 20 Apple I6 phones
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Mar 29, 2015 04:52pm
Shameful act. Management should adopt zero tolerance policy.
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Mar 29, 2015 04:55pm
@Fazal Can you not speak Urdu ?
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Mar 29, 2015 04:56pm
This is an organised gang in which PIA Station Manager Manchester and Manager Birmingham are involved along with few other unionised traffic staff based in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore
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Mar 29, 2015 05:06pm
@raja farhat abbas any clean, honest professional who is not a safarishee appointed as a political reward. How can all this be happening and the man responsible for its operations, safety and complying with respective international rules, be sleeping ,oblivious to this disgrace. There are those who can do a good job, if they are appointed.
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Mar 29, 2015 05:13pm
one fails to understand the logic behind giving statements " will punish or will bring them to justice or will take severe steps " all is a joke now .... what IMAGE was tarnished ... wheres that image / who is the custodian of that IMAGE ? as long as nepotism exists in our society we will keep on sinking ...
most Pakistanis travel in PIA as last option. trust this is a clear indication what IMAGE we have.
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Mar 29, 2015 05:23pm
The best way for PIA is to bargain with Qatar Airways, Etihad n Emirates and give them all sectors and get money from them and go home.
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Mar 29, 2015 05:25pm
@Zak we better appoint you as PM of Pakistan
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Mar 29, 2015 05:34pm
British are after Pakistanies we all should realize before we blame our Crew
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Mar 29, 2015 05:50pm
@Fazal may be PIA less staff is there.
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Mar 29, 2015 06:06pm
@Kobe Well said kobe
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Mar 29, 2015 06:11pm
"With the Pakistan International Airlines, it's caring, it's sharing. It's just like coming home." Great People to Flight With. Ha! Ha!
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Mar 29, 2015 06:13pm
400 ciggerates are allowed, why big fuss for 1000?? Don't defame PIA to get contracts for BA!
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Mar 29, 2015 06:20pm
Not the first time and certainly not the first time when PIA will "investigate" a breach of conduct. God save Pakistan
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Mar 29, 2015 06:24pm
How difficult is this to fire them .Give there name and bring them to shame if they are really involved . Or it is just common mistake and media putting some juicy news.
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Mar 29, 2015 06:34pm
They do the same thing when they come to Toronto.Changing the uniform wont help anything in terms of service .You have to educate them to follow basic rules.
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Mar 29, 2015 06:36pm
Corruption , greed, disrespect for law no moral from top to bottom
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Mar 29, 2015 06:42pm
A number of bad apples have allowed for rot to set in.
There are good people but their silence encourages bad practices and corruption to flourish. About time both insiders and outsiders spike out.
Anyone found guilty of corrupt practices and abuse should be publicly named, so other public institutions don't end employing the same people because corruption will flourish elsewhere.
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Mar 29, 2015 06:46pm
Way to to Pakistan...
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Mar 29, 2015 06:47pm
@Gerry dcunha sir I do not agree with your point of view as in Pakistan PIA Jobs are one of the most highly paid ones. That is why they are putting in all sorts of efforts to get a job in it. No body stops them from leaving PIA and joining any other airline.
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Mar 29, 2015 07:59pm
Nothing new. They are habitual violators.
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Mar 29, 2015 09:10pm
What can anyone say when she or he doesn't even know the nature of the violations? But one thing must be mentioned. Why do we always think of the image of Pakistan? Why don't we teach people to respect laws and rules? The government of Pakistan should rebuke the offenders for their behavior for not respecting the laws of another land.
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Mar 29, 2015 09:21pm
Stopped flying PIA in 1990 poor service expensive fares..Emirates Zindabad......
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Mar 29, 2015 09:54pm
This type of behavior by the employees of the PIA is a direct result of nepotism based hiring - from CEO to peon. PIA should hire top exec from outside of the country for at least 10 years to develop independently to get back on track.
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Mar 29, 2015 11:12pm
@Kashif ....I 200% agree with Kashif's idea and point here. If Emirates reading this thread, please look into this option and run Emirates service on pakistan's domestic routes. We dont want to fly on PIA anymore. I hope this happens fast.
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Mar 30, 2015 12:06am
Heads must roll now of all involved in dirtying the name of the nation.
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Mar 30, 2015 12:32am
This is what happens when merit is not followed. The whole society needs to be cleaned up. Cannot expect this to happen with present managers the country has.
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Mar 30, 2015 12:50am
Pia,cricket team,celebrity,leaders,theres is any public figure who dont bring shame to Pakistan and oversees Pakistanis.
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Mar 30, 2015 12:51am
@raja farhat abbas
Any one, but Pakistani to bring change
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Mar 30, 2015 12:58am
The behaviour of the cabin crew tarnished the image of the national flag carrier and the country” Ha, Ha, Ha, as if they ever cared.
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Mar 30, 2015 01:02am
@Fazal . 'No one spoke english'?and at Heathrow London? How can we believe the rest of your story?
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Mar 30, 2015 01:12am
PIA is soon changing uniform for crew members which will bring a magical change in the airlines repute. Lol
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Mar 30, 2015 01:14am
just emagine people of Pakistan Vote Somebody like NAWAZ Sharif to become PM , any one can emagine who is running PIA.?
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Mar 30, 2015 01:24am
@maher ihsan Imran Khan bring us pride.
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Mar 30, 2015 01:26am
@Gerry dcunha Are you providing world class services?
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Mar 30, 2015 01:55am
@Fazal your story does not make sense. Were you trying to buy the ticket at the last minute or you reached late and the counter of PIA has closed? I always prefer to travel by PIA till 2 years back when I switched over to another airline, I have never encountered any problem apart from minor things which can be overlooked. And yes, they do speak English, not in the accent of 'angraiz' though.
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Mar 30, 2015 02:34am
Unfortunately PIA staff is quite rude that I myself witnessed while travelling in the past.They lack the basic etiquettes and customer service which also needs to be ameliorated as the first step,I suppose
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Mar 30, 2015 02:34am
Automatic labor cuts! if the staff continues with its traditional behaviour and if they do get terminated, maybe PIA will finally be profitable.
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Mar 30, 2015 02:36am
PIA is reflective of the character of the nation. Needs much to be desired.
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Mar 30, 2015 02:50am
if PIA crew can treat their customers like the way they treat 35 years ago. Then PIA can become like Emirates in future
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Mar 30, 2015 02:59am
in another news, as usual the culprits were related to elite class of pakistan hence they were let go !
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Mar 30, 2015 03:43am
Shouldn't these excess of duty free items stopped or confiscated when they arrived in Pakistan. Didn't realize that there were limits on duty free items one could buy in London.
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Mar 30, 2015 04:28am
@Syed Brilliant analysis
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Mar 30, 2015 04:52am
@Karim what national image? A
Which planet are you living on?
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Mar 30, 2015 04:54am
@Sssj it ain't no more the land of pure
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Mar 30, 2015 04:55am
@truth tell us what you love about it?
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Mar 30, 2015 05:43am
When an indian is stopped or questioned in UK or USA, the american and the british govts apologise and the officers suspended .
Why is it the other way around for a pakistani?
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Mar 30, 2015 10:42am
What else can expect from PIA....
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Mar 30, 2015 01:13pm
Just over a month ago, the PIA Station Manager in Dhaka and the crew of an incoming flight were hassled by the Government of Bangladesh for smuggling. PIA were so offended by this that they suspended their operations to/from Bangladesh for two weeks. In the light of the UK incidents, one wonders whether their reaction was out of place. And funnily enough, they have not suspended their UK services in response to these new allegations.
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Mar 30, 2015 01:57pm
Everything can be turned around if will and good intentions are there.Still you find honest people in Pakistan.They can work well provided there is no political appointees and political interference.Place some honest Air force officer as MD PIA and give him resources,mandate to bring AIRLINE to respectable position.I am sure it will change positively.
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Mar 30, 2015 06:56pm
PIA used to be one of the best in the world. Now it is the WORST in the world.
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Mar 31, 2015 04:20am
PIA has a good GM I am sure he will deal with it swiftly. I am surprised these crew members are so callous and no regard for their country or its people.
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Mar 31, 2015 08:01am
@proud-winner you should change it to "fortunately"
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Mar 31, 2015 08:04am
@Arshad
It goes with everything else in Pakistan.Pakistan of the 60s....and Pakistan of today.
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Mar 31, 2015 01:24pm
@zia For an answer to your question - you need to look at the list of the 50 richest persons in the UK. You will surely know why.
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Mar 31, 2015 06:16pm
Lack of Governance everywhere
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Apr 01, 2015 01:32am
@armani bobs what was that?
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Apr 01, 2015 01:38am
@saqib ghumman because unlike Pakistan in the UK you haveto pay Tax on goods, the UK are very strikt about this, they do not care if you are 1 cig over or 500 over you allocation it means nothing they will look at this as theft as you have not paid your tax on it its simple.
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