Robot waitress draws customers to Pakistani pizza joint

The owners of a pizza shop in Pakistan say business is booming now that they’ve introduced a robot waitress.

Osama Jafri, the engineer who designed the 55-pound robot, said it can greet customers and carry pizzas to their tables. The robot resembles a woman wearing a long dress and apron, and Jafri said he wrapped a scarf around its neck so as not to offend conservative patrons.

He said sales at Pizza.com, in the town of Multan, have doubled since the robot was unveiled in February. Jafri’s father, Aziz, who owns the restaurant, said he has three more robot waitresses and plans to open a new branch.

He said, “I used to sell pizzas, but now restaurant owners want to buy robots from me.”