Between late 1996 and mid-1997, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) leased four Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft (UK-85711, UK-85764, UK-85438 and UK-85416) from Uzbekistan Airways.
PIA utilized these aircraft for various operations including Hajj flights, Domestic services within Pakistan and Regional flights to Uzbekistan in Central Asia.
The original lease agreement was set to run until 2001. However, due to unspecified technical reasons, the contract was terminated prematurely, and all four Tu-154 aircraft were returned to Uzbekistan Airways in the summer of 1997.
The photo, taken on May 14, 1997, shows a Tu-154M in PIA's sports livery with registration number 85711 at Karachi Airport.
