Islamabad, July 29, 2025: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has started work on restoring the historic aircraft and planetarium located at Chauburji Chowk — a familiar site for many Lahoris over the years.
As per reports, the project is expected to be wrapped up by August 14 lining up with Independence Day celebrations. The old aircraft, parked there since the 1980s and left to fade under the sun and rain, is finally getting the attention it needs. A full paint job is underway, along with the addition of new seats. The cockpit will also be restored to how it looked in its early days, likely to catch the interest of kids and aviation buffs alike. The planetarium beside it is being repaired too.
Once the work is done, families will be able to visit the site. Ticket prices have been fixed — Rs 100 for children and Rs 150 for adults. Athar Hassan Awan, PIA’s Deputy General Manager for Marketing, is leading the effort.
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This isn’t a first for the airline. A similar restoration was completed earlier in Karachi and now a grounded plane in Peshawar is next in line.
A spokesperson from PIA shared that this initiative is tied to the airline new image-building drive, especially as it gets ready to fly again to the UK and Europe. The idea, they said is to offer something fun and educational for the public while keeping a bit of aviation history alive for the coming generation.
