A picture circulating on social media shows the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) office in the Netherlands adorned with an LGBTQ+ flag at its entrance. The image has sparked claims that the national carrier is endorsing the LGBTQ+ community.
However, the reality differs significantly, as the office has been closed for some time, clarified PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan. Located in Amsterdam, the office ceased operations in 2018. Khan explained that annually, from July 22 to August 4, Amsterdam celebrates the queer festival Amsterdam Pride.
The spokesperson emphasized that the flag seen in the image was actually raised by the municipal government of Amsterdam. To support this, Khan shared additional photos and videos of the street scene where the office is located.
Further addressing the situation, Khan noted that the larger flags displayed in the area bore the monograms of the municipality and did not represent PIA’s values.
Regarding the office’s future, the spokesperson revealed that PIA had leased the premises to another entity, which plans to remove all traces of the national carrier’s name and logo following renovations.
