Old PIA plane takes new flight as airport security turns it into restaurant: reports
Dawn.com
Published
May 31, 2017
The Airport Security Force (ASF) has converted an old aircraft, previously owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a restaurant, ProPakistani reported Wednesday.
According to the news site, PIA retired the Jumbo Jet, a 747-300 AP-BFV, in 2014, following which the aircraft was transferred to a hanger in Karachi's Jinnah International Airport and later "donated" to ASF for use in anti-terrorism training purposes.
The plane has now been refurbished into a restaurant reportedly by ASF. No further details could be confirmed at the time this report was filed.
Following are some pictures of the interiors of the restaurant that are being shared on social media.
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On DawnNews
Comments (95) Closed
Zaheer
May 31, 2017 06:05pm
Innovation. Good thinking!
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Shahzad
May 31, 2017 06:05pm
Best of luck
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Sarmad Hassan
May 31, 2017 06:06pm
Aalaaa !
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Huma
May 31, 2017 06:07pm
Lovely
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AGHA PASHA
May 31, 2017 06:08pm
V nice.
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Salman Ahmad
May 31, 2017 06:10pm
The only work that PIA could do.
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Maybe
May 31, 2017 06:14pm
Another way of increasing PIA revenue , Good job !
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Raza
May 31, 2017 06:18pm
Finally some one shows some good sense and utilizes this old plane for karachi entertainment starved public.
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Khurshid
May 31, 2017 06:19pm
Very good innovation, is local public has access to visit and dine, that has to be seen
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Muhammad zafar iqbal
May 31, 2017 06:22pm
Good utilisation of the old plane .
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Ali
May 31, 2017 06:22pm
PIA should have given this retired Jumbo to 'Civil Aviation Museum', instead of giving it for ASF's restaurant on airport premises, now restaurant garbage will attract birds, a serious hazard for aircraft. Old aircraft should be preserved as our aviation heritage.
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Bozdar Mustafa
May 31, 2017 06:35pm
good use of an old stuff........................good luck to buyers.
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Shehz
May 31, 2017 06:35pm
So instead of using it for anti-terrorism training, the ASF are utilizing it as a restaurant now?
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Arahman
May 31, 2017 06:41pm
what is security forces has to do with restaurant. Should have used for training purposes (rescue hijacked plane may be).
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Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY
May 31, 2017 06:55pm
Looks very impressive from inside.My congratulations to the Owner who came up with this idea.No doubt it is
going to be very popular.This is what I would call modern thinking.
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Syed Zaheer Ali
May 31, 2017 07:13pm
When I was working with PIA(1964-1972) the slogan was "Great People to fly with PIA", Thanks to our government and PIA management, now the slogan should be changed to "Hungry people to eat with PIK(Pakistan International Kitchen)". It looks like PIA will do better in restaurant business. There are millions of people, waiting for good food.
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citizen
May 31, 2017 07:14pm
If PIA converts all its planes to restaurants, may be it will come out of red...and make some profit..!!
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MAHMOOD KAZMI
May 31, 2017 07:27pm
very good change
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Naeem
May 31, 2017 07:27pm
Who cares about security training for which this plane was donated to ASF? This way, a PIA plane will make money by not taking off.
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J. Gamble
May 31, 2017 07:32pm
Old railway bogies should also be used for the same purpose.
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Lakhkar Khan
May 31, 2017 07:36pm
That the most productive thing PIA has done in a very long time.
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vikas
May 31, 2017 07:47pm
What a brilliant idea.
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rich
May 31, 2017 07:56pm
as per comments everybody is praisng PIA
its not PIA but airport security who has done it
but security force should have used it to train for hijacking ect, which was its original purpose
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Khanm
May 31, 2017 07:58pm
Interesting comments ...folks ..was that plane a private property of PIA ...who decides to give it away to whom ...so many question runs through my mind ..
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Shakeel
May 31, 2017 08:12pm
Too bad. This is not the way
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Saeed Masood
May 31, 2017 08:12pm
@Ali ...Real Pakistani crying and never happy with anything
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M.Saeed
May 31, 2017 08:19pm
But, what was the junk price of the aircraft? It could have been converted into much better use. For example, its engines could have been used to generate electricity. Remember, when first Boeing 707 was added to the fleet of PIA in 60's, it included the example that, its powerful engines were capable of generating enough electricity to light an average city! And, 747 is almost 4 times more powerful than 707.
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ABE
May 31, 2017 08:20pm
@Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY "Innovative thinking"?
Really? Do you drive from New Jersey to eat at JFK airport? The business model doesn't make sense and there is hardly anything innovative and attractive about sitting inside a rusty old plane to eat some bland overpriced meal, while you struggle to peak through tiny windows, only to see occasional Gulf Carriers come and go, while PIA itself is nearly on its death bed!?
Does that excite you at all?? Does anyone enjoy dining like that at an Airport, even when one is stressed with Travel?
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ABE
May 31, 2017 08:24pm
@M.Saeed I'm more inclined to think that this jet comes sans engine, which have already outlived their usefulness. So the Engines have been either sold or have been canabalized for parts for operational jets.
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Shahid
May 31, 2017 08:28pm
PIA looking its bright future to offer services in jumbo cart at public parks instead of an air line
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Desi bhai
May 31, 2017 08:33pm
Beautifully done! Thanks Dawn for sharing this.
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The end is near
May 31, 2017 08:38pm
Well done. Now turn the rest of the planes into guest houses. They are very unsafe and too risky to fly with.
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LIfe
May 31, 2017 08:40pm
PIA donated that for counter terrorism exercises and ASF converted it into restaurant? Where ASF is getting funds to invest in businesses? I wonder how much is being spent on business ventures out of Rs.970 Billion hard earned taxpayer's money.
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Amir
May 31, 2017 08:46pm
right. our tax money now a private business venture of the certain few?
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nac Paris
May 31, 2017 08:48pm
Great idea. looks beautiful. hope no politician is involved
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Skeptic
May 31, 2017 08:54pm
People usually seek romantic, relaxing, picturesque locations to dine. That's why even old ships converted to restaurants on river, or harbor are popular, as are trains which are moving with view of the lovely landscape or the sea ore also popular.
Who wants to go to an airport to sit inside an old plane, parked on a concrete apron with nothing to look at except more concrete or the walls. I bet even the food in this joint is over priced and nothing to brag about - unless you have heard anyone lauding PIA catering and in-flights meals? Where do you suppose the meals are cooked or the chefs hail from in this joint??
Never seen anything as silly as this before. Thoughtless business idea.
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J. Gamble
May 31, 2017 09:05pm
@ABE - Definitely, it is not a bad idea to use an old and discarded plane, but my concern is when it is run by a government agency, it is always run i loss. Take all the cases of government owned steel mills, etc.
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Morning Star
May 31, 2017 09:05pm
Are they going to serve food from PIA kitchen? Then, I would stay away from this restaurant.
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majid
May 31, 2017 09:08pm
Not bad, very innovative
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majid
May 31, 2017 09:11pm
But I see the aircraft was donated to ASF for anti terrorism training purpose, hope they got the approvals and permissions to convert it into a restaurant..
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Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY
May 31, 2017 09:16pm
@ABE I think you are just jealous of this man who has come up with this idea and turned his idea into reality.
You are narrow minded,broaden your thinking.Since this has been done by a Pakistani it makes you unhappy
but if it had been done by a foreigner by now you would have been praising him? Elementary?
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Mahmood
May 31, 2017 09:19pm
@Jamil Soomro, NEW YORK CITY - What a juvenille comment. Why would anyone be jealous of a business which makes little sense?
You must be living near the airport so or connected with this gang? Otherwise won't be zealous with your diatribe and nonsense. Of course, we do expect you to fly from New York and make an effort to eat inside this rust bucket as soon as you land!?? Hmmm.....
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J. Gamble
May 31, 2017 09:21pm
@Morning Star if you flown before, you would have noticed that all airlines buy their food from the vendors, which is also of cheap quality. You don't know how old that food has been sitting in their frozen compartment.
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Mahmood
May 31, 2017 09:33pm
If you ever visited PIA kitchen at Karachi Airport, or dined at ordinary Pakistani restaurant, you would avoid this joint like the rest. PIA Catering was never considered the best - like Emirates. I expect hygiene standards in this rust bucket to be eve lower and quality not much better than what you would eat on a PIA flight.
The average cost (production cost to PIA) per meal for is Rs 25. Do you expect a gourmet meal? Though I have little doubt that each dish will start at Rs 500 in this parked plane restaurant. Therefore 2-3 months later this plane will be converted yet again as a playground prop for kids. with slide shuts and fake similulators installed.
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Ashraf
May 31, 2017 09:45pm
excellent
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Memberfor
May 31, 2017 09:47pm
All PIA plane should trun in to restaurant they can make more money
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Frisal Kashmir
May 31, 2017 09:50pm
In India these experiments were quite successful. In Ludhiana we have got a restaurant from an old boeing. Restaurant is always full capacity with one hour waiting time in the evenings. Boeing was cut into pieces and transported and reassembed..
It is on road side near punjab govt milk plant.
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majid
May 31, 2017 09:52pm
@Ali very very right
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MHS
May 31, 2017 10:36pm
the idea is not original, you can see a similar setup at Shangrilla, Skardu
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Fahad Saeed
May 31, 2017 11:18pm
Opening up a restaurant in a high security area where entry is restricted for majority civilians most of the time around the year. Sounds like a great business plan!! A great initiative ASF in improving airport's security
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Philosopher (from Japan)
May 31, 2017 11:19pm
For those who are praising it as a good business model don't know the location of this plane / restaurant is very bad in terms of customers attention. It's situated in old area of Malir behind the Jinnah terminal. I hardly expect a few customers who can visit from far away localities. I didn't see the proper car parking too.
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VRM
May 31, 2017 11:20pm
Great idea. Hope it succeeds.
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LAHORI KID
May 31, 2017 11:43pm
Please don't tell me they moved it to Tariq road. Another thing, seriously though, where is this plane/restaurant? Hope its not still sitting at the airport, how do they plan to keep the security at the airport if you got people coming to eat at the airport?
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M Taimur
May 31, 2017 11:52pm
Let us convert all PIA planes into restaurants. Hopefully PIA will earn some revenue.
By the way if ASF and other security forces start focussing on their job (rather than looking into opportunities to start new business) we can avoid the embarrassment when heroin is recovered from PIA planes.
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WARRIs
Jun 01, 2017 12:26am
Breath of fresh air, well done and keep the spirit up
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Fahad
Jun 01, 2017 12:32am
Its very great idea
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mohsin rizvi
Jun 01, 2017 01:07am
I am very disappointed to see this utter nonsense & pathetic money grabbing idea. Instead of making measures to uplift the image & dignity of the flag carrier, they are selling its image. Conservative leaders, conservative approach.
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Awaz...
Jun 01, 2017 01:21am
hahaha ... Only think we need in Pakistan is a "restaurant." ...Eat, Eat and bas Eat...
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Khwarizm
Jun 01, 2017 02:11am
PIA with her finacial losses crossing all boundries is in no position to donate anything to anyone.
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Aleem
Jun 01, 2017 02:23am
Boeing 747 ,a reminiscent of an era when PIA was comparatively profitable organisation than it is now!
Now, PIA cannot afford to go for planes like Airbus A380 which almost costs the same as selling price of PIA itself!!!!
No Airport in Pakistan is capable to allow landing of mighty Airbus A380!!!
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Peterson
Jun 01, 2017 02:42am
If you do it with rest of the planes PIA will be profitable
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AW
Jun 01, 2017 03:22am
who is benefiting financially from this restaurant????? that is the key question
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Nz
Jun 01, 2017 04:13am
Core business declining so they are resorting to anything Tay could make them sometimes money. By them, I mean people who are running the show, not PiA
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Tarzan
Jun 01, 2017 04:52am
Eat or train. The same thing.
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Jolt
Jun 01, 2017 06:03am
Great idea and very nicely done . Why are we assuming that the plane was flight worthy and the engines were not sold . This is likely just scrap metal with the shape of a plane that has been elegantly redesigned. The queen Mary an iconic ship is now a hotel in Long Beach CA : The access to this should be outside the airport and would make a great theme restaurant
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Khurram Ahmed Memon
Jun 01, 2017 06:10am
Haha.. Great! Stepped by ASF
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Ghana
Jun 01, 2017 07:30am
@Khurshid : many countries in Western Africa has done the same innovation 10 year's back
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Jamil Akhtar
Jun 01, 2017 08:17am
@J. Gamble it (Train old boogies) can also be donated to the poor ones to use it as a home
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Ashraf Abro
Jun 01, 2017 08:32am
Innovative and positive.
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Sofia Riaz
Jun 01, 2017 09:38am
Creative idea + implementation. I am fond of visiting/ dining in this restaurant with my husband and son.
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Sofia Riaz
Jun 01, 2017 09:46am
Salute + Hats Off to creator.
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MUHAMMAD ILYAS KHAN
Jun 01, 2017 10:06am
Good Move by ASF.
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Lala Hassan
Jun 01, 2017 10:18am
No doubt its good idea but I wish, security WALAS should focus on security issues instead of running restaurants etc. I am not sure about its legal status as well.
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Muhammad
Jun 01, 2017 10:20am
Its very Sad. WAs given to ASF for the Training purpose.
Even if its being dismantled it wld had fetched a good amount of money. Check the videos on Discovery about the dismantling of the B-747 and its uses and the amount they are getting after dismantling it.
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Tanveer
Jun 01, 2017 10:57am
What a complete waste of tax payers money. ASF should have used the plane as a security resource .
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Dr Ehsan Ullah
Jun 01, 2017 11:16am
good idea... making something productive from retired plane... Seems cool
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Ali Tariq
Jun 01, 2017 11:46am
PIA is running in loss so in order to earn more profits they should turn all their planes to restaurants :P
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Sarfraz Andrew
Jun 01, 2017 02:11pm
Good Action
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Zubi jameel
Jun 01, 2017 04:19pm
Good idea we should appreciate the creativity instead of criticising because some efforts taken by pIA.
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Shakir Ansari
Jun 01, 2017 05:24pm
Everything commercialized. Instead of imparting training they are now using to earn money. It is sad state of affairs as everywhere things are commercialized. How we would get rid from it.
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shome
Jun 02, 2017 08:53am
At least this will make some profit!
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Zia Ul Islam
Jun 02, 2017 09:16am
Good initiative by ASF. Whether it would be accessible to public and how it would be maintained? The plane use to park at planetarium remained in bad shape.
Regards.
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Gupta, Bangalore
Jun 02, 2017 10:40am
There is already one such Boeing 747 converted to hotel in Europe (Amsterdam?)
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Waqar
Jun 02, 2017 12:59pm
This is good development to reshape the plane to a restaurant, but this is unfair for closing the route from Habib University towards KalaChapra(Colony Gate) for joining Shahra e Faisal, We demand to concerned authority to make a double standard road .
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javed
Jun 02, 2017 01:21pm
What business does a Security Agency have in running a commercial enterprise like a restaurant.
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Dawn
Jun 02, 2017 05:05pm
Great idea. Suggest PIA does same with the rest of the fleet - given their performance in the sky.
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pakistani
Jun 02, 2017 05:38pm
A good way to fund for their expenses. All government depts. should take the initiative like that.
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mohammad salim
Jun 02, 2017 06:15pm
I am perplexed. Why would anyone change the very reason why the plane was donated in the first place? Certainly ASF could have used the plane for training purposes for the benefit of thousands of passengers that they are responsible for the safety of, rather than changing it for pleasure for a few! Can somebody answer that?
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saad
Jun 02, 2017 06:17pm
@Aleem New Airport in Islamabad which will inaugurat on 14 August as planned, is capable of mighty AirBus 380 landing.
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J. Gamble
Jun 02, 2017 07:39pm
@Jamil Akhtar -In USA, there are mobile homes in almost in every big city.They are mounted on wheels, and can be moved from one place to the other. They have to go to specific place, where they are connected to water, electricity and sewage services. The company charge the owners for using their land.
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Javed helali
Jun 02, 2017 08:44pm
Good idea. BD had turned one cyclone stranded ship into restaurant few years back . Wasn't much of a success. Let's hope this one is.
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weq
Jun 02, 2017 11:09pm
Genius idea!
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Guru
Jun 03, 2017 12:56am
It's just terrible.
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Amir
Jun 03, 2017 03:00am
One at Food Street Gawalmandi Lahore is awaited. please..
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Fazal Karim
Jun 03, 2017 05:12am
Good idea, keep up quality at moderate price. Airport security should not be compromised.
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