Then there will remain ignorant people who, when consulted, will give verdicts according to their opinions whereby they will mislead others and go astray....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Amr (R.A)
I heard the Prophet saying, “Allah will not deprive you of knowledge after he has given it to you, but it will be taken away through the death of the religious learned men with their knowledge. Then there will remain ignorant people who, when consulted, will give verdicts according to their opinions whereby they will mislead others and go astray.”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 410
Orient Airways was the predecessor of Pakistan International Airlines.
Before Pakistan International Airlines became the country’s flag carrier, there was Orient Airways, a pioneering airline that helped lay the foundation of Pakistan’s aviation industry. Orient Airways was established in 1946 in British India, with its base in Calcutta (now Kolkata). At the time, the idea of a Muslim-owned airline was both ambitious and symbolic. It was supported by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who recognised the importance of air connectivity for a future independent state. Aviation was not just about travel - it was about linking distant regions, supporting economic growth and building national unity.
When Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the country faced enormous logistical challenges. There were limited transport networks, and the two wings of Pakistan - East and West - were separated by over a thousand miles of Indian territory. This is where Orient Airways stepped in. It quickly shifted its operations to Pakistan and began vital air services between cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Dhaka. In those early days, its aircraft carried not just passengers but also refugees, government officials and essential supplies.
Operating under difficult conditions, Orient Airways struggled with limited resources, ageing aircraft and financial constraints. However, its role remained crucial. It was, in many ways, the backbone of Pakistan’s early aviation efforts.
Recognising the need for a stronger and more organised national airline, the government decided to restructure the aviation sector. In 1955, Orient Airways was merged into a newly formed entity: Pakistan International Airlines. This marked the official beginning of PIA as we know it today.
PIA went on to achieve remarkable milestones. It became one of the first airlines in Asia to introduce jet aircraft and was even a training ground for other international carriers. But behind these achievements lies the legacy of Orient Airways, the airline that took the first bold step.
So next time you think of Pakistan’s aviation history, remember that it didn’t begin with PIA alone. It began with a small, determined airline that helped our new nation find its wings.
