Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed an inquiry into a recent Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) advertisement promoting the resumption of flights to Paris, France. The advertisement sparked widespread criticism for depicting a plane appearing to head toward the Eiffel Tower.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in a policy statement, confirmed the inquiry and criticized the advertisement, calling it a “stupid” idea. “Who conceived this idea?” he questioned, adding that the plane’s direction in the advertisement could have been adjusted to avoid such controversy.

The advertisement, released last Friday to mark the resumption of PIA flights to France after more than four years, quickly drew backlash and sarcastic remarks from the public. The issue also gained attention in international media, further amplifying the criticism.