Nostalgic Newspapers Advertisements of Pakistan

Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Old Ad of Faletti’s Hotel Lahore..Wow! There was a time when Faletti’s Hotel Lahore proudly added in its advertisement, “Electric Light and Fans in all the rooms”.

Ford Motors Ad by Eastern Automobiles, The Mall, Lahore, 1939. This ad was published in Daily Inqalab, Lahore on November 7, 1939. Photo Courtesy: Mr. Amjed Saleem Alvi.

Ford Motor Car by Ford Automobiles Ltd. Lahore. Wow! In the pre-Partition days one could buy a Ford Touring Car for Rs. 2560.

Oldsmobile Motor Car by Ford Automobiles Lahore

Dean & Co, Sports Goods, Sialkot

Pak Air Ad in a Newspaper, 1948. Pakistan Airways (also known as Pak Air or Pak Airways) was founded in 1948 with its headquarters in Karachi. It was initially a charter outfit engaged in taking immigrants from Karachi to Bovingdon air station of Royal Air Force in England. The airline saw a total of three air crashes (at Basra in Iraq, Vehari and Karachi) during its operative period. It probably ceased its operations in December 1949.

An Aircraft of Pak Air (also known as Pak Air or Pak Airways). Photo courtesy Abbas Ali’s Collection (historyofpia.com).

B.P Biscuits and Bread, Karachi, 1949. This ad was published in Pakistan Year Book of 1949 printed by Kitabistan, Karachi. One can see the famous ‘Nice’ Biscuits in the ad. B.P. Factory (later named as B.P. Industries (Pvt) Ltd.) was founded in Karachi before 1940. The abbreviation “B.P.” stood for Barkash and Parkash, two Hindu brothers who owned the factory. After the Partition, it stands for Best Products. The B.P. bread is still available in some parts of Karachi. The B.P. Industries now mostly manufacture a wide range of products, such as; Chewing Gum, Bubble Gum, Jellies, Toffees, Candies, Chocolates, Biscuits and Wafers, which are being exported to many countries.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

‘Coco Gold’, 1949. By Ganesh Khopra Mills Company Karachi. This ad was also published in Pakistan Year Book of 1949 printed by Kitabistan, Karachi.

‘Lifeman’ Medicated Toilet Soap, 1949. By Basra Soap Factory, Kharadar, Karachi. This ad appeared in Pakistan Year Book of 1949 printed by Kitabistan, Karachi.

N. Hassanali Aerated Water, Karachi. N. Hassanali Aerated Water (soft drink) was introduced in Karachi long before the Partition. Later, Pakola (the competitor of N. Hassanali) was launched on 14 August 1950. The factory of N. Hassanali was probably closed in 70’s.

Orient Airways Ltd, Inaugural Flight Lahore to Dacca, 1950.  This ad was published in The Pakistan Times, August 1950 mentioning the commencement of flight between Lahore and Dacca with effect from 12 August 1950.

Actress Suraiya in Ad of Lux, 1951

Cherry Blossom Boot Polish, 1952

Afza, 1952

Cherry Blossom Boot Polish, 1953

Vanaspati, 1952

Karachi to Lahore Airfare by Orient Airways Ltd. 1954. This ad was published in Dawn Newspaper in 1954. Orient Airways was registered in Calcutta on 23 October 1946. It was the first and only Muslim owned airline in British Raj. The initial investment was provided by the Ispahani, Adamjee, and the Arag group. Mirza Ahmad Ispahani was its first Chairman. It got operating licence in May 1947. Four Douglas DC-3s were obtained in February 1947 and operations started on 4 June 1947. The designated route was Calcutta-Akyab (now Sittwe)-Rangoon (now Yangon) in Burma (now Mayanmar), which also happened to be the first post-war international operation to be flown by an airline registered in the British Raj.
Orient Airways, along with the help of some chartered BOAC aircraft, transported the people between Delhi and Karachi in 1947. Later, Orient Airways transferred its base to Pakistan with a skeleton fleet of just two DC-3s, three crew and twelve mechanics. Its initial routes were Karachi-Lahore-Peshawar, Karachi-Quetta-Lahore, and Karachi-Delhi-Calcutta-Dacca. By the end of 1949, Orient Airways had acquired 10 DC-3s and 3 Convair 240s.
On 11 March 1955, the government of Pakistan merged Orient Airways with other airlines to form Pakistan International Airlines.

An Aircraft of Orient Airways, Pakistan

GM Bus Body, 1955

Sabiha Khanum in Ad of Lux, 1956

Tibet Snow, 1956

Rogers’, a Pakistani Beverage: 1956. This ad was published in 1956.  Rogers’ was a soft-drink brand, owned by a Parsi family. The lemon drink and soda water of Rogers’ was very popular. The factory was closed in the early 1980s.

‘The Democrat’ Radio’s Ad in a Newspaper, 1956

Habib Bank Ltd., 1957

Palace Hotel Karachi, 1958

Hotel Excelsior, Elphinstone Street, Karachi, 1958. This ad was published in Women’s World Magazine in 1958. Dance and Cabaret were not banned in those days, they were later banned by Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1977.

Tibet Tooth Paste & Tibet Toilet Soap by Kohinoor Chemical Co Ltd., 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

Rustam & Sohrab Bicycles, 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table. These bicycles are probably still in production at Shahdara, Lahore. Note the peaceful atmosphere where a girl is riding a bike alongside with her male friend. Don’t mind the wrong spellings of indigenous as ‘indegenous’ and De-luxe as ‘De-lux’.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

Sartaj Industries Ltd., Mcleod Road, Lahore, 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table. The products of Sartaj Industries are, Sartaj Sewing Machine, Sartaj Bicycle and Crown Bicycle. The sewing machine is available on monthly installments of Rs.10 only, while the price of  Crown Bicycle is Rs. 136. Just look at the stand of the sewing machine, it is not just a stand, the whole unit is an older version of today’s electric sewing machine. Very simple in design but very effective, as the user runs the machine through feet.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

West End Watch Company, 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table.  Trains don’t wait for the man who’s late ………… 
West End Watch Company, located in Switzerland, got its name from The West End, a district of London. The factory was established in 1886 and is still in business. Its Distributor in Pakistan, “West End Watch Co” is located at M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi and still in business.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

Bombay Cloth House, Anarkali, Lahore, 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table. Note the ‘Sarees’ were in vogue in those days. Now Sari is worn rarely.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

The Daily ‘Tameer,’ Rawalpindi, 1959. This ad was published in November 1959 edition of Pakistan Railway’s Time & Fare Table. This newspaper is no more in circulation.
Photo courtesy: Owais Mughal.

Ahmed’s Sweetmeats by Ahmed Karachi Halwa Merchant

Zelin’s Coffee, 1960

Grundig Radio, 1960. This ad of Grundig Radio, for its latest Model No. HWE-3010, was published in 1960. The distributors were Syed Bhais Ltd, Ferozepur Road, Lahore. The robust radios made by German manufacturer Grundig AG (established in 1930) were very popular in Pakistan. Grundig AG declared bankruptcy in 2003. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Mercedes Bez 190, Model of 1961. Karachi Engineering Corporation Ltd was selling 1961 Model Mercedes Bez 190 for Rs. 28,500. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Opel Rekord, 1962. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Skoda Car. Those were Good Old Times when one could get a Skoda car by just paying Rs. 1300 as down payment and remaining amount in 35 installments.

BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), 1962. This ad was published in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962. Those were good old days when BOAC used to take passengers from Pakistan to different cities in the USA.

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) and Swissair, 1962. This advertisement was printed in June 1962 issue of ‘The Mirror’. SAS and Swissair connected Pakistan to 56 countries in 5 Continents.

Parker 45 Pen, 1962. This ad was printed in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962. Parker pens were very popular in those days.

Karim’s Karilin Tissue Satin, 1962. This ad was published in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Tibet Royal Rose Talc, 1962. This ad was published in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962.

Hotel Metropole, Cabaret and Dinner Dance, 1962. Published in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962.

Flit from ESSO, 1962. Published in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962.

Sanatogen Tonic, 1962. This ad appeared in ‘The Mirror’ June 1962.

‘The Three Castles’ Cigarettes. ‘The Three Castles’ Cigarettes were produced by Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited and a pack of 20 cigarettes cost Rs.1.75.

Diplomat Cigarettes. A pack of 10 cigarettes cost 62 Paisa.

Aroma Tea (Three Stars brand) by Adam Jee, 1963. This ad was published in ‘The Mirror’ Magazine in 1963. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Ad of Tudor Cigarettes, 1963. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Capstan Cigarettes. Capstan Cigarettes were produced by Pakistan Tobacco Company Limited and a pack of 20 cigarettes cost Rs.1.80 while a pack of 10 cigarettes cost 90 Paisa.

National Panasonic Transistor Radio Model R-131

EFU Insurance Company Ltd.

Standard Insurance Company Ltd.

Ideal Life Insurance Company

Alladin Battery Cell

Medora of London

Cosco Talcum Powder

Ford: Distribution by Ali Automobiles Ltd.

Lux, 1964. Film actresses Neelo, Shamim Ara and Shabnum.

Pakistan International Airlines,1964. ‘Every fifth PIA passenger a new one’. The advertisement reads: “While growth in passenger traffic for all airlines averaged 11% over the past five years, PIA’s passenger traffic has gone up 25%. These results reflect not only PIA’s dramatic expansion, but also PIA’s own high standards of operation – again, well above the industry average. It is this sort of vigorous growth and imaginative enterprise which last year brought to this consistently profitable airline over 14% more passengers, and explains why travelers say PIA are great people to fly with.” Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.
Photo courtesy: Abbas Ali Collection.

Tibet Talcum Powders, 1965

Volkswagen, Distributors: Modern Motors Ltd., 1967. This ad was published in 1967. The price of 1300 cc car is Rs. 16,990 at Kaarchi Show Room. The Volkswagen Beetle (officially the Volkswagen Type 1), is a two-door, four passenger, rear-engined economy car manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen (VW) from 1938 until 2003. The final original Type 1 VW Beetle (No. 21,529,464) rolled off the production line at Puebla, Mexico, on 30 July 2003. This last Beetle, nicknamed ‘El Rey’ (Spanish for ‘The King’ after a legendary Mexican song by José Alfredo Jiménez) was delivered to the company’s museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. VW Beetle is now a collector’s item. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

West Pakistan Family Planning Board, Lahore, 1968. This ad was published in all the newspapers to celebrate the decade of progress (1958-68) in Ayub Khan regime. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Honda Motorcycle, Dealers: Atlas Autos Ltd., Karachi & Atlas EPak Ltd,. Dacca, 1969. This ad of 90 CC Honda Motorcycle model 1969 was published in various newspapers in 1969. The running cost of this motorcycle was 2.5 paisas per mile. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Tibet Snow Beauty Cream

Pakool Wool

Shalimar Shirting by Shalimar Silk Mills Ltd.

Tibet Shaving Cream by Kohinoor Chemical Co Ltd., 1969. This advertisement was published in Dawn, Karachi, on 26 March 1969. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Film star Rani in the Ad of Lux Toilet Soap, 1969. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan. Courtesy: The Citizen Archive of Pakistan (CAP).

Habib Bank Ltd., 1971

Rexona Soap. Rexona soap was manufactured by Lever Brothers (now Unilever Pakistan).

Lifebuoy Soap. Lifebuoy Soap was manufactured by Lever Brothers (now Unilever Pakistan).

Sualin; Remedy for Cold & Cough. Sualin is being manufactured by Hamdard Pakistan.

Glaxose-D

Tullo Banaspati Ghee. It is the product of Wazir Ali Industries.

Burmah-Shell Pakistan. Burmah-Shell Pakistan is now called Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL).

Macleans Toothpaste

Waterbury’s Compound Tonic

Post Office Saving Bank. In those days one could open a saving account in Post Office Saving Bank with Rs. 2 only.

‘Evening in Paris’ Bourjois Perfume

Inter-Continental Hotels in Pakistan in 1971. There were four Inter-Continental Hotels (now Pearl Continental Hotels) in Pakistan in 1971.

NEC Television Model 23R71. Distributors; Wazir Ali Engineering Ltd.

Jet Washing Powder, 1973. Babra Sharif featured in this ad which was published in Akhbar-e-Jehan, edition of 13 November 1973.

Ad of Red & White Cigarettes, 1975. Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan.

Al-Karam Square, 1975 Ad.

PIA’s Travel Time from Paris to New York in 17 hours, 1979. The ad shows the shadow of a Boeing 747 on Twin Towers of World Trade Center in New York.

Sport Carbolic Soap. Cricketer Rameez Raja featured in this ad of early 80s.

Ad of Suzuki FX 800 CC

Related Posts:

Rare Newspapers & Magazines Headlines about Pakistan

Rare Newspapers and Magazines (World)

Rare Photos of Pakistan

Rare Photos of Pakistani Politicians

Rare Videos 

Rare Videos of Pakistan

Editor’s Note:
If you have liked this post about Old Newspapers Ads Pakistan, then please share it on Facebook and Twitter.
Please also write your brief comment at the end of this page under the heading “Leave a Reply here”.