PIA pilots make history by becoming first pair of sisters to fly Boeing-777s concurrently
Dawn.com
Published
August 31, 2016
KARACHI: Two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilots made history by becoming the first pair of sisters in Pakistan to fly Boeing-777 airplanes at the same time.
Maryam Masood and Erum Masood are both first officers who fly different planes, PIA Spokesman Danyal Gilani told Dawn.com. They are junior only to the plane's captain, who are often very experienced pilots, Gilani said.
"There is no known record of two real sisters having flown the same weight category aircraft concurrently," the PIA spokesman said.
Erum Masood was recently upgraded to fly a Boeing-777, leading them both to achieve this feat.
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On DawnNews
Comments (153) Closed
Fast
Aug 31, 2016 12:13pm
Well done. Pakistan is proud of you sisters.
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Nomi
Aug 31, 2016 12:15pm
proud of you.
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AKKS
Aug 31, 2016 12:17pm
Well done! Great achievement!
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Merchant
Aug 31, 2016 12:24pm
Fantastic, keep it up.
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Ali Rizvi
Aug 31, 2016 12:24pm
thats gr8! Women empowerment!
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Ramesh C Manghirmalani
Aug 31, 2016 12:27pm
@AKKS agreed
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Qaiser Ali Khattak
Aug 31, 2016 12:30pm
Great achivement
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Shafiq Ahmed
Aug 31, 2016 12:29pm
Wow Great, feeling Proud
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saleem
Aug 31, 2016 12:36pm
Many many congratulations to both sisters. they are real assets of our country. Pakistan should open pilot airline training school so that our pilots can give services to all over the world. We have more talent in Pakistan but unfortunately there is not much facilities are provided to them to groom their skills and talent.
God bless both sisters. Thumps Up.
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Mahmood
Aug 31, 2016 12:39pm
Bravo! These are the moments which makes the country proud.
Now, if only PIA can re-invent itself and become as marvelous as the glorious past, that would be a crowning achievement.
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Nazir
Aug 31, 2016 12:41pm
Proud of you ladies.
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billu
Aug 31, 2016 12:45pm
Proud daughters of Pakistan.
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kash
Aug 31, 2016 12:47pm
Whatever the state of PIA and its planes, one thing for sure is that they have some of the best airline pilots in the world
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Bob
Aug 31, 2016 12:48pm
From India. Nice to see young Pakistani sisters working as pilots in their suits without any hijab. Congratulations to both of them. May their tribe grow.
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Houlbelat
Aug 31, 2016 12:56pm
All praise to the two brilliant sisters. But, PIA is the same white dinosaurs aging ahead of its age.
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JQ
Aug 31, 2016 01:01pm
how come a same blood relation work together in same flights and in same organisation on similar post .
Although its good but Pakistan zindabad.
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Balakrishnan Kamesh
Aug 31, 2016 01:02pm
Nice to seen women are earning their reputation , wish to see them in all the sectors.. and their contribution in building up a robust economy.. all the best PAKISTAN wishes from and humble INDIA...
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SDA
Aug 31, 2016 01:03pm
Bravo!
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AJS
Aug 31, 2016 01:06pm
This is the fantastic news for our society.Especially when it comes to female,
May God please keep our heads up to all these type of things.
I am from India and definitely a great solute to these pilot sisters. This is the real Pakistan......
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Tarik
Aug 31, 2016 01:06pm
Bravo...moving ahead in the footsteps of Pakistan's first female pilot, Shookreya Khanum!
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Furqan
Aug 31, 2016 01:07pm
@Qaiser Ali Khattak How?
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Pakistani
Aug 31, 2016 01:09pm
Congratulations to sisters!!
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Shakir Luqman
Aug 31, 2016 01:14pm
Proud of you. Keep it up.
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atif
Aug 31, 2016 01:15pm
@Balakrishnan Kamesh they are in all sectors already ..name it.... its not a patriotic statement..our woman are in almost every sector..
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nac Paris
Aug 31, 2016 01:20pm
Terrific achievement in a family as normally is father and son. We need more.
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ANAS
Aug 31, 2016 01:20pm
Pride of our country...we should encourage more women to move forward in different fields.
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Sympathiser
Aug 31, 2016 01:23pm
Another example of woman power!!! Keep it up
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Faiza
Aug 31, 2016 01:32pm
@Bob: even if the ladies were wearing hijabs, it would not matter. That is personal choice.
Well done, ladies. We should feel proud and encourage many more like them.
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salim langra
Aug 31, 2016 01:34pm
Bravo!!! Salute to the ladies from India.
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Shakeel Ahmed
Aug 31, 2016 01:36pm
Well done.
Keep it up and down with the conservative lot who want to see women imprisoned at home only.
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Bilal s
Aug 31, 2016 01:38pm
Well done. Safe flying both of you!
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Picasso
Aug 31, 2016 01:41pm
@Bob it doesn't matter that whether they are wearing hijab or not, its their personal choice,they are just proud of our country.. We are also very proud of Mariam Mukhtar who is the first female pilot martyr of our country and wore hijab..
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N.Sid
Aug 31, 2016 01:40pm
Great achievement, helps in breaking the stereotypes associated with Pakistan. The perception and reality is different. Wish PIA again gets the reputation it has earlier, top three airlines in the world...can be done.
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Qadir Khan
Aug 31, 2016 02:02pm
Good news about PIA after a long long time! Thank you Masood sisters. We are all proud of you.
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Shahid Niaz
Aug 31, 2016 02:10pm
You make us proud.
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A. A.
Aug 31, 2016 02:13pm
I have generally found women to be excellent in multi-tasking - much better than men. Glad they have started to break down the glass ceiling in Pakistan now. It will make it much easier for my two toddler girls when they grow up :)
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Rafique Ahmed Khoso
Aug 31, 2016 02:20pm
Congratulations!!!!
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ANAS
Aug 31, 2016 02:22pm
@Bob Hijaab is a personal choice. Hijaab or no hijaab theses women are our pride.
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Bhavin
Aug 31, 2016 02:28pm
Congratulation to both of you and PAK.
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Khan
Aug 31, 2016 02:33pm
An average Joe will be lucky if he can get his foot in a government organization in Pakistan without using someone's reference. Two very close in age sisters made it that far. Just curious if the appointments were made on Merits and not safarish. No offence to anyone. Wish you all the best.
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Salma Shahid
Aug 31, 2016 02:36pm
Brighter side of Pakistan, proud.
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msd
Aug 31, 2016 02:59pm
Great. Thumbs up!
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Imtiaz Ali Khan
Aug 31, 2016 03:02pm
Awww... So proud of you beautiful and talented. GBU and wish you all the success, may we many more millions like you.
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Azmeen
Aug 31, 2016 03:05pm
You are Pakistan's pride. God may bless both sisters a great success.
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Farooq Jawed
Aug 31, 2016 03:14pm
I hope that most, if not all, religious seminaries in Pakistan that are inundated with misogynist views get to see this news so they can understand that women can do anything they put their mind to, Instead of demeaning and preposterous views that they are subjected to daily.
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Shivam
Aug 31, 2016 03:20pm
Women empowerment! Good to see that.
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Pune-India
Aug 31, 2016 03:20pm
NICE...GOOD LUCK from India
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Khan of KPK
Aug 31, 2016 03:32pm
This is my Pakistan making record after record . Keep Making us proud.
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Iftikhar Husain
Aug 31, 2016 03:33pm
Bravo c0ngratulations it is a good news.
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Amer RAO Toronto
Aug 31, 2016 03:39pm
Congratulations Pakistan
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Safir Siddiqui
Aug 31, 2016 03:58pm
Well done sisters for flying 777.you have made Pakistanis proud.Keep it up.
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KUNAL MAJUMDAR
Aug 31, 2016 04:01pm
Fantastic achievement. Expecting more such news emanating from Pakistan.
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Ali
Aug 31, 2016 04:07pm
Excellent role models for the nations!!!
weldone girls
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malik
Aug 31, 2016 04:16pm
we proud of you as pakistani
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Tsmilselvan
Aug 31, 2016 04:18pm
Congratulations from India
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D.K. PAMNANI
Aug 31, 2016 04:18pm
Congratulations to both sisters. Not only Pakistanis, but Indian are also proud of them. Hurray
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SHAHID MAHMOOD
Aug 31, 2016 04:28pm
Well done sisters.
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warshah
Aug 31, 2016 04:27pm
Educated and self dependent women are important for any country. Keep doing good for women welfare. Congratulate Ladies
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ali khan
Aug 31, 2016 04:29pm
proud of our Pakistani girls
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Saif ur Rahim
Aug 31, 2016 04:32pm
It is excellent news. It is the great achievement for the nation to have female pilots in line with the male pilots. The sisters are pride of Pakistan. Heartiest congratulation to both of them and their family who have supported them to achieve this milestone.
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Maj (r) Dr. M. Basir Khan
Aug 31, 2016 04:33pm
It is indeed a great pleasure and proud for me that the two young sisters namly: Maryam & Erum Masood have joined PIA as Pilot/Captain. In other words, both sisters will one day prove themselves as best ladies Pilot for the entire nation inshaallah. Keep it up and Salaam
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Ali Rizvi
Aug 31, 2016 04:53pm
@Bob what has hijab got to do with their work. Do not mix religion with professionalism...
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Saifuddin Takhtawala
Aug 31, 2016 04:55pm
All hats are up for Masood sisters. We are proud of you. Go Girls Go.
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enviros
Aug 31, 2016 05:09pm
Pakistani women are par excellence,provided they got opportunity.
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omar
Aug 31, 2016 05:12pm
some good and positive news, well-done, good luck.
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Changez_Khan
Aug 31, 2016 05:13pm
We are proud of you both sisters.
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Picasso
Aug 31, 2016 05:18pm
@Ali Rizvi Agree..
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Hamaad
Aug 31, 2016 05:25pm
@Bob What does this have to with hijab? All Pakistani women whether they wear hijab or not have equal opportunities to excel in all fields of life.
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Nadeem, USA
Aug 31, 2016 05:32pm
@saleem, Brother for your kind information, except for manufacturing planes PIA was the industry. PIA was training staffs of other countries in Asia. PIA was considered the best airline in the world. Political influence and recruitment destroyed PIA.
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AXH
Aug 31, 2016 05:41pm
You will never see coverage of this type of news in the West.
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AXH
Aug 31, 2016 05:44pm
Pakistan is no Saudi Arabia, Iran or any of the other ME country. Our bright women are commercial pilots, fighter pilots, politicians, army and police officers, business women and the list goes on.
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Zi
Aug 31, 2016 05:44pm
Well done ladies! More power to ladies like you.
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patriotic
Aug 31, 2016 05:47pm
Proud to see pair of girls from single family achieving such milestone in History of Pakistan Pilot service.
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Jawaid kamal
Aug 31, 2016 05:52pm
So very proud of you and your families,congratulations .
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Shakil USA
Aug 31, 2016 05:55pm
Proud Pakistani and God bless you. God bless Pakistan.
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Jawaid kamal
Aug 31, 2016 05:56pm
Proud of pakistani women for their diehard commitment to excellence,and to beat stereotype .
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hanifsmile
Aug 31, 2016 06:00pm
This is a real Pakistan that I know
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Farouk Salehjee
Aug 31, 2016 06:01pm
Congratulations ! so proud of you both sisters and so is Pakistan. Keep it up !
s/o late Capt M M Salehjee
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Sajid Sajjad Abbasi
Aug 31, 2016 06:14pm
Great. Kudos to the brilliant girls.
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Culture Vulture
Aug 31, 2016 06:25pm
Bravo to both the sisters. Good to see that women of this country are making good progress in almost all the walks of life.
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Waheed Noor
Aug 31, 2016 06:26pm
Good job and way to go girls.
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pk
Aug 31, 2016 06:47pm
Pakistan need such example to educate their society. These two sisters are really doing great job. You should spread this message across Pakistan.
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Hamza Shahzad
Aug 31, 2016 06:50pm
Good
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kiran
Aug 31, 2016 06:58pm
As an Indian i would say this is a real achievement of Pakistan. I am proud that this sisters are from a fellow neighbouring south asian country. Congrats to the sisters, to Pakistan and to PIA who made it possible.
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m ahmed
Aug 31, 2016 06:59pm
Good job .Hopefully more will join you. You shine the way for the women in Pakistan .That's good achievement...Next step to space .I love to see that
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Parachinari
Aug 31, 2016 07:03pm
Great going! You go girls! Proud to be Pakistani.
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Sensible Indian
Aug 31, 2016 07:02pm
Proud of you sisters..
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Parachinari
Aug 31, 2016 07:02pm
@Mahmood right!
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Paklander
Aug 31, 2016 07:08pm
Proud of our Pakistani women!
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Jason
Aug 31, 2016 07:37pm
Absolutely fantastic!
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Iztraab
Aug 31, 2016 07:40pm
@Bob what's wrong with the hijab?
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Samar Faizan
Aug 31, 2016 07:57pm
Proud of you. May you reach greater heights.
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Ajay ladkani
Aug 31, 2016 08:02pm
Well done ladies. Both of you are an inspiration for the young generation. This news is well covered in most of Indian newspapers and readers are full of praise for this duo.
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Anupama
Aug 31, 2016 08:14pm
Go girls!! More power to you. Congratulations!!
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ozzy
Aug 31, 2016 08:17pm
@bob hijab is beautiful and their choice. Whats ur problem in india with it?.
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Zak
Aug 31, 2016 08:20pm
Pakistan leading the world. The Naya pakistan. Well done. Inspiration to women world over.
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Sridhar Raghunatha Rao
Aug 31, 2016 08:23pm
Very pleasing to learn the achievement by lady pilots of PIA. They distinctly stand out to show how ladies can perform when any opportunity is provided to them. Well done sisters.
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Janab
Aug 31, 2016 08:26pm
Congratulations from India. This is the news we want to hear from your country.
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Musleh Uddin Ahmad
Aug 31, 2016 08:27pm
Youngsters of Pakistan are far more talented than their older generation. What they actually need is good education, small guidance and freedom of decision making. Provide it, and see how landscape would change into a beautiful scenery. I am so very hopeful of younger generation to perform.
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Jaago
Aug 31, 2016 08:29pm
Very good show!
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Farrukh Sarfraz
Aug 31, 2016 08:29pm
You make us proud.
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aman
Aug 31, 2016 08:32pm
Mashallah, I am proud of you.
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Ali
Aug 31, 2016 08:35pm
Pakistani women are trail blazers not just as PIA pilots, but also PAF pilots. Now two sisters are flying PIA Boeing 777, this is an extraordinary achievement, perhaps not matched by any other airline in the world. PIA also had all women crew flying PIA Airbus 300s. Its high time the government appointed women for PIA management, surely they will perform better than incompetent men appointed thus far. Maryam and Erum Masood have made the nation proud.
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DIL DIL PAKISTAN
Aug 31, 2016 08:40pm
Proud to a Pakistani الحمد اللہ
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Freeman
Aug 31, 2016 08:39pm
Nothing special about the record but glad to see Pakistani women flying Boeing. Keep it up ladies.
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Wakar
Aug 31, 2016 08:55pm
Thats the only history we can make now. What about the airline itself gone. Being a Pakistani it hurts me a lot
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Masood
Aug 31, 2016 09:04pm
Now we are talking !! This is what Pakistan needs to show the rest of the World, what are we made of.
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Battleaxe
Aug 31, 2016 10:12pm
I think it's good news for women in general of the subcontinent , feel jelous but that's male nature , best wishes.
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Karma
Aug 31, 2016 11:04pm
..But this post didn't mention from where did they fly to and the destination..
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Ashar
Aug 31, 2016 11:15pm
@JQ Read again..on different planes but same time and type..B777's.
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Lafanga
Aug 31, 2016 11:40pm
Two thumbs up for both sisters.
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Aziz Ali
Aug 31, 2016 11:46pm
Congrats
We pray for your glorious future ahead.
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My2Paisas
Aug 31, 2016 11:54pm
Finally a feel good story about Pakistan... and PIA to top it off.
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Bin of
Sep 01, 2016 12:50am
Pakistanis have great potentials and are one of the most talented, welcoming and hospitable Nation of the world. The foreigners visiting Pakistan including Indians have frequently endorsed the above facts about Pakistan and Pakistanis. Unfortunately because of the incessant rule of corrupt and incompetent rulers the most beautiful Country and Nation been taken hostage by all sorts of religious, ethnic, radicals extremists, terrorists and the criminals. This has gravely affected the self integrity, the use of talents and progressive ambitions of such a great Nation. As such pushing the non-privileged overwhelming majority of youths towards more and more deeper anguish and hopelessness.
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iftikhara btt
Sep 01, 2016 01:17am
Proud to be Pakistani
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Arif Ali
Sep 01, 2016 02:06am
@Bob When will we stop judging women by the choice of their clothing? If the sisters wore hijab, would it lessen their achievement in any way? It is their choice whether or not to wear hijab and no one has the right to pass judgments based on what they chose.
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Zaman
Sep 01, 2016 02:13am
Equality for the mostly unprevilaged and ignored female kind can spell success for Pakistan
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Mustafa Kemal Pasha
Sep 01, 2016 02:51am
Good job!
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Nizar Jooma
Sep 01, 2016 03:12am
Well done Maryam and Erum - all Pakistanis are proud of you.
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Akhlesh
Sep 01, 2016 03:23am
Wonderful! Only the sky's the limit for both of them.
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Realize
Sep 01, 2016 04:23am
Great achievement!!
Well done ladies!!
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Krishna
Sep 01, 2016 04:35am
Inspiration for millions of girls in indian sub continent. They should also be equally treated and allowed to excel in all fields. Wish india and pakistan has more girls joining and showing thier talent in all fields..
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Javed
Sep 01, 2016 05:38am
Well done!! We need more people like you in this country.
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YOUKNOWIMRIGHT
Sep 01, 2016 05:57am
@JQ , sad to see you obviously flunked comprehension. The story makes it clear the two sisters fly separately.
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iqbal rangoonwala
Sep 01, 2016 06:01am
we can be proud if pakistan as drinking water.education,health care and othwrt basic facilities for the masses
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Ravishankar
Sep 01, 2016 06:04am
Terrific. May their tribe increase with the support of the society
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Arun-KS
Sep 01, 2016 07:14am
Various fields are waiting Pakistani females to exhibit their diversified roles.
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white noise
Sep 01, 2016 07:28am
Ladies : Salute..
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Patrick Sarsfield
Sep 01, 2016 07:51am
Wonderful clever talented
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Zafar Ahmed
Sep 01, 2016 07:52am
We are proud of them , stay blessed
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Rajiv Ranjan
Sep 01, 2016 08:22am
Well done. Superb. Congrats. This is the type of role models Pakistan desperately needs.
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Ben
Sep 01, 2016 08:32am
What a fantastic achievement by these two. I wish to congratulate not only them but their family for raising and supporting two very accomplished individuals. What an outstanding triumph by both sisters. Way to go ladies!
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Saurabh Kumar
Sep 01, 2016 11:58am
Congrats from India
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Surya Kant
Sep 01, 2016 02:19pm
Kudos to these two brave and intelligent ladies. This is a real and tangible achievement of women of Pakistan. This should work as guiding lights for other females.
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Worth_Commenting
Sep 01, 2016 02:39pm
@Bob Why? Would you be disappointed if they chose to wear hijab?
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sangun
Sep 01, 2016 03:01pm
Well done!
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m ahmed
Sep 01, 2016 04:17pm
HEY Girls you are our PRIDE
Hope few more follow your footsteps
We always will pray for your safe journey
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Pedro Sam
Sep 01, 2016 04:20pm
Excellent skills coupled with wonderful look. It is so pleasing to see women in Pakistan going places. Pakistan should be a role model to the world in empowering women.
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Sami
Sep 01, 2016 04:49pm
@Bob --- Hijab, when it's worn as a choice the woman makes herself of her own free will and her own genuine sentiments, is perfectly okay. I say this as a liberal. I believe in freedom of choice, freedom of expression, and personal freedom.
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JQ
Sep 01, 2016 05:32pm
@YOUKNOWIMRIGHT Brother - Understand - same flight or different flight, Post and organisation is same.
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JQ
Sep 01, 2016 05:32pm
@Ashar Brother - Understand - same flight or different flight, Post and organisation is same. You can check the Policy which are signed before joining.
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Purush
Sep 01, 2016 05:52pm
Brilliant. congratulations to them and their parents.
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Sohail
Sep 01, 2016 07:03pm
Truly a great achievement. Somehow, somewhere, and in the darkest days of Pakistan, these wonderful and self made Pakistanis shine all the way. Enlightening the whole nation.
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gknatarajan
Sep 01, 2016 10:49pm
congratulations! well done!
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Questioner
Sep 02, 2016 12:44am
Good to hear this. I hope their landings are smooth and soft like the legendary PIA landings. Anyone who has travelled on different airlines will unhesitatingly tell you that PIA's pilots have the smoothest landings in the world.
In November 2008, I landed on a PIA 777 in Toronto. The weather was wet and cold, with strong wind gusts across the runway. The pilot made a beautiful, smooth landing, with amazing control over the aircraft's trajectory, as the cross-winds were very powerful.
I hope PIA can be revived to its former glory, in all areas.
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Siddharth
Sep 02, 2016 05:15am
Congratulations !!! It would inspire others too.
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MALIK FROM AUSTRALIA
Sep 02, 2016 07:27am
Hearty congratulations to Masood sisters. The lady pilots make me proud. I wish them every success and a bright future.
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Jahaalatmaar
Sep 02, 2016 08:33am
@AXH Yes, and even The Ex prime Minister BB.
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Anuj
Sep 02, 2016 12:57pm
great effort by women in Pakistan from breaking another glass ceiling. Kudos to the sisters ! jai woman shakti.
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seeker
Sep 02, 2016 01:32pm
Wonderful !! Are they twins?
Congrats to the sisters and the entire nation.
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ANEES
Sep 02, 2016 02:09pm
well done a great achievement shows that woman can succeed even in Pakistan
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tapish
Sep 02, 2016 09:35pm
After Malala these girls have made Pakistan proud. Protect them responsibly and do not treat them the way Malala was treated.
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Abdul Gaffar jamal
Sep 03, 2016 01:02pm
congratulations. proud to learn about two Pakistani sisters flying Boeing 7777 as pilots.
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