Once Upon A Time In Pakistan

[Sine Nomine]

Quaid-e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Cover of Time (Edition of April 22, 1946)

A group of Western tourists push a broken-down truck on Lahore’s Grand Trunk Road (1974)

Pakistani Film Industry's Legends.

Nadeem and Waheed Murad

A 1964 PIA press ad featuring famous Hollywood comedian and actor Bob Hope.

PIA was one of the first airlines in the world to introduce in-flight entertainment. It regularly featured in all the prestigious top-10-airline lists for over 20 years, before dropping out in the mid-1980s.

A couple swings into action at a New Year’s party at a nightclub at Karachi’s Hotel Metropole (1957)

A group of hippie travellers enjoying Pakistani beer at a rest house in North Pakistan (1974).

American tourists travelling to Lahore from Karachi on a Pakistan Railways train (1976)

A 1973 issue of The Herald with a cover story on the then vibrant social scene of Karachi.

 

[Sine Nomine]

Former Pakistani Test batsman Sadiq Muhammad (left) and former Pakistan cricket captain, Mushtaq Muhammad, share a beer in Sydney in January, 1977.

The picture was taken inside the players’ dressing room at the Sydney Cricket Ground after Pakistan defeated a strong Australian Test side. This was Pakistan’s first Test victory against Australia in Australia. With the victory, Pakistan squared the series 1-1 after being one down in the series. Seen in the background is a shirtless Imran Khan who took 12 wickets in the match

Che in Karachi: Yes, that’s the great Marxist revolutionary and legend, Che Ernesto Guevara, standing along side Pakistan’s first military dictator, Ayub Khan

Astronaut of NASA’s Apollo 17 and his wife wave to fans on their arrival at Lahore AirporT

Cover of the May 1972 issue of The Herald. Herald (a monthly published by the Dawn Group) was initially a magazine focusing on the changing fashion, political and social trends of the urban Pakistani youth. However, from 1980 onwards it became more political in its content.

A scene from Hollywood blockbuster ‘Bhowani Junction’ being shot outside a Lahore police station

The charismatic Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of the popular US President, J. F. Kennedy, visited Pakistan in 1962. Here she is seen riding in an open-top limo with the then ruler of Pakistan, Ayub Khan,

Time when a Pakistani president could easily slap U.S President in Fun That is how strong the relations were. —

A group of hippies (British, French and American) wait for a bus in Lahore (1972). Pakistan was an important destination on what was called the ‘Hippie Trail.’

The trail was used by thousands of young European and American backpackers between the late 1960s and 1979. It was an overland route that began in Turkey, ran through Iran, curved into Afghanistan and Pakistan and then from India ended in Nepal.

A huge tourist industry sprang up in these countries to accommodate the backpackers. In Pakistan, the travelers entered Peshawar (from Jalalabad in Afghanistan). From Peshawar they went to Lahore. Some took a bus into India while others visited Karachi and Swat before returning to Lahore and crossed into India.

The trail closed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran; the beginning of civil war in Afghanistan; and due to the reactionary nature of the Ziaul Haq dictatorship that came to power in Pakistan in 1977.

 

[Sine Nomine]

A modern ‘rail car’ made in Pakistan with the collaboration of Japanese engineers parked at the Lahore Railway Station in 1964. Popular with travellers wanting to move rapidly between cities, the car were commissioned out of service in the 1980s.

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Begum Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan with Walt Disney in Washington DC

Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Liquat Ali Khan (left), having a chat with famous Hollywood actor and star James Stewart (second from left) in Lahore (1951)

A 1974 press ad of Red & White cigarettes. Just like in other airports of the world at the time, smoking was allowed in all areas of Pakistani airports as well. The shoot for this ad took place at the old Karachi Airport that worked as a hub in the region and was one of the busiest airports in Asia receiving up to 60 flights in an hour from around the world.

The man is sitting at a famous waiting lounge/restaurant at the airport (Sky Grill) that also had a full bar and was the only place at the airport that was centrally air-conditioned.

An early 1970s press ad of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). PIA was considered to be one of the ten best airlines in the world between 1962 and 1980. It constantly scored high for having ‘best in-flight entertainment,’ business class, ‘most convenient connections’, ‘delicious cuisine’ and ‘a wide selection of wine, whiskeys and beer.’

The first men on the moon land in Pakistan. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (the first men to land on the moon), arrived in Karachi in early 1970 during their tour of South Asia. Here they are seen being greeted by an enthusiastic crowd just outside the Karachi Airport.

A European tourist with two students of the Peshawar University in an old street of Peshawar (1974)

 

[Sine Nomine]

Ava Gardner shooting a scene at the Lahore Railway Station in 1954

Some young members of the Pakistan cricket team living it up at a nightclub (1976). Seen (from left): The hard-hitting and flamboyant Wasim Raja (bearded); opener Mudassar Nazar; fast bowler Sikandar Bakht and batsman, Javed Miandad.

Notice the tone used in the caption of the photograph that appeared in a Pakistani English daily. It is upbeat and matter-of-fact, unlike the condemning tone that (mostly Urdu press) began to use for ‘partying cricketers’ after early 1980s.

Famous Hollywood stars Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger arrive at Lahore Airport, 1954. The actors arrived in Lahore with a full filming crew to shoot a major portion of the film ‘Bhowani Junction

PIA press ad, 1965: This 1965 PIA ad (published in Dawn) bares claims that one can’t even imagine PIA to make in this day and age.

When this ad appeared in print, PIA was enjoying rapid growth within and outside Pakistan. It had already been noted for having ‘the most stylishly dressed air hostesses’, great service, a widespread route and, ahem, ‘having a generous and tasteful selection of wines, whiskeys and beers’ on offer.’*

*Serving alcoholic drinks on PIA was banned in April 1977.

One of the rare photographs available of Karachi’s famous nightclub scene of the late 1960s and 1970s.

Live music, great food, lots of booze and dancing were the hallmarks of the scene. Shown here is a club band playing to a happy audience at a ‘mid-range’ nightclub in Karachi (in 1972).

According to former nightclub owner and entrepreneur, Tony Tufail, ‘Karachi would have gone on to become what Dubai later became if not for the ban.’*

*Nightclubs were closed down in April 1977.

Western tourists pose with a group of locals outside a rest house in Ziarat in Balochistan (1974)

This is a 1974 picture of Karachi’s iconic Pearl Continental Hotel (then called theIntercontinental). Notice the short walls of the hotel, hardly 3 and a half feet tall!

Now compare them with the tall, thick walls and the chaotic barbed wire that surround the same hotel today and what with all the concrete barriers and dozens of armed security personnel that one has to go through.

Peaceful Karachi in 1970's.

 

[waleed3601]

and then zia ul haq happened......

 

[Sine Nomine]

Future US President, Barak Obama with a Pakistani friend in Karachi in 1982

LP cover of Nazia and Zoheb Hassan’s first album, ‘Disco Dewane’ (1980).

Natives of a Sindhi village drench a European tourist with cold water from a well to beat the summer heat (1973).

Pakistanis and tourists wine and dine at Karachi’s Beach Luxury Hotel in 1969.

US Vice President, Richard Nixon, writing his comments on the visitors’ book at Radio Pakistan’s Karachi station in the 1950s. With him is famous Pakistani radio personality, Z A. Bokhari.

One of the first Pakistani pop stars, Alamgir, in Karachi (1973).

Karachi's amazing Clifton beach in 1962.

A 1976 photo showing famous Pakistani pop star, Alamgir, sharing a joke with popular TV actor and comedian, late Moin Akhtar. The photo was taken just before an Alamgir concert in Karachi that was hosted by Moin

 

[Sine Nomine]

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Legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali, arrives at a college in Lahore during his 1988 visit to Pakistan

President Ayub Khan with Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaherlal Nehru

1st February 1961: President General Ayub Khan of Pakistan assists Queen Elizabeth II down the steps to the lawn of his Karachi residence, where she was attending a State Banquet in her honour with Prince Philip, as part of their 16 day tour of Pakistan

 

[Sine Nomine]

@Horus @Oscar @Juggernautjatt @Chak Bamu @T-Faz @Imran Khan @waz @levina @Blue_Eyes @nair @Rain Man @Zarvan @Jazzbot @That Guy @Gufi @haviZsultan @WAJsal @Akheilos @Windjammer @Stealth @Pomegranate @farhan_9909 @Irfan Baloch

 

[Zarvan]

@Horus @Oscar @jugnibaaz @Imran Khan @waz @levina @Blue_Eyes @nair @Rain Man @Zarvan @Jazzbot @That Guy @Gufi @haviZsultan @WAJsal @Akheilos @Windjammer @Stealth @Pomegranate @farhan_9909 @Irfan Baloch

Similar thread was posted many times before old fascinations of liberals who want bar in every street and to walk completely naked in streets which is not going to happen in Pakistan.

 

[Sine Nomine]

Similar thread was posted many times before old fascinations of liberals who want bar in every street and to walk completely naked in streets which is not going to happen in Pakistan.

well bro that is not about bars or Islam that is about our bloody double standards,today more zina is committed then before 80's more alcohol is consumed then 80's more breaking of moral code is done today then in those years it's not about liberal or extremist..

 

[WAJsal]

Good times.Hope we see better days in future . Check these images out , @DESERT FIGHTER ,@Pomegranate ,@utraash ,@Blue_Eyes ,@Georgeclark ,@SpArK , @SpArK .
Look at what has happened to PIA .God bless us.

 

[Georgeclark]

Good time.Hope we see better days in future . Check these images out , @DESERT FIGHTER ,@Pomegranate ,@utraash ,@Blue_Eyes ,@Georgeclark ,@SpArK .
Look at what has happened to PIA .God bless us.

Not Just PIA people are afraid of some unwanted things like kidnapping of tourists which harmed the tourism, also lack of Pakistani governments approach towards promoting tourism in Pakistan.

Similar thread was posted many times before old fascinations of liberals who want bar in every street and to walk completely naked in streets which is not going to happen in Pakistan.

Bro instead of that, Pakistan can promote its own Heritage. So less people around the world know about Pakistani Monuments something special about it. The reason no one remembers it when they plan a trip. To do this, you need a different approach sometimes.

 

[WAJsal]

Not Just PIA people are afraid of some unwanted things like kidnapping of tourists which harmed the tourism, also lack of Pakistani governments approach towards promoting tourism in Pakistan.

How bad times changes you.

 

[TheNoob]

Woooooooooow...........

This, really feels like some old movie you see.

Why am i born so late ;-;

 

[Sage]

Similar thread was posted many times before old fascinations of liberals who want bar in every street and to walk completely naked in streets which is not going to happen in Pakistan.

Yes....as long as we have Maulana Burqa and his ISIS sympathizers