money was found hidden in various parts of her body
At Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, customs officials arrested an air hostess from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
She was arrested for attempting to smuggle foreign currency out of the country.
The air hostess was apprehended with 40,000 Saudi Riyals (£8,200) and $37,000 (£28,000) concealed in her socks.
The air hostess, who was scheduled to fly out of Lahore to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was flagged for suspicion of smuggling.
Deputy Collector Customs Raja Bilal confirmed the incident, stating that the money was found hidden in various parts of her body during a search.
Following the discovery, the air hostess was immediately removed from the flight.
A case has been registered against her, and she has been handed over to the investigation team for further inquiries into the smuggling attempt.
Deputy Collector Bilal reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to curbing currency smuggling.
He said that directives from the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the FBR have been issued to curb these crimes.
The incident involving the air hostess has prompted swift action and heightened vigilance in combating such illicit activities.
However, this is not the first time that PIA employees have been charged for their illegal actions.
A female flight attendant named Hina Sani faced detention at Toronto airport in March 2024 during a Canada-bound flight.
The situation escalated when Canadian immigration officials discovered multiple passports belonging to different individuals in Sani’s possession upon her arrival into the country.
Travelling with passports not belonging to oneself constitutes a serious international offence, prompting authorities to take swift action.
Sources revealed that Sani had previously received warnings for attempting to bring prohibited items into Canada, indicating a pattern of concerning behaviour.
Moreover, PIA, the national carrier, has been grappling with a troubling trend of staff disappearances during overseas assignments,
It is further underscored by the recent case of Noor Sher.
Noor Sher was a member of a 16-person flight attendant team assigned to flight PK 781 from Pakistan to Toronto.
He went missing when he failed to report for his scheduled return flight, sparking immediate alarm.
These incidents have raised significant concerns regarding PIA’s ability to retain its staff on international assignments.
There are reports indicating that at least 14 crew members, comprising both male and female personnel, have deserted their duties since January 2023.
The recurring pattern of disappearances has cast a shadow over the airline’s operational integrity.
It has also highlighted the pressing need for enhanced measures to ensure staff accountability.
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