Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Pakistan’s civil aviation authorities have announced a partial closure of airspace over Karachi and Lahore from May 1 to May 31, 2025, citing heightened security concerns, according to Pakistani media reports.
As per a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), designated sectors in the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions (FIRs) will remain closed daily from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AMthroughout the month.
Commercial Flights Re-Routed, Six PIA Services Cancelled
While commercial air traffic is being re-routed using alternate corridors, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has cancelled six round-trip flights to accommodate the restricted airspace. These include:
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Islamabad to Gilgit: PK-601, PK-603, PK-605
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Islamabad to Skardu: PK-451
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Return Flights to Islamabad from Gilgit: PK-602, PK-604
Aviation officials termed the step as a precautionary measure, emphasizing that normal airline operations will not be heavily impacted.
Security Concerns Amid Rising Indo-Pak Tensions
This development comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists.
Sources suggest that the decision to close airspace is connected to increased military readiness in the region. Meanwhile, unverified chatter on Pakistani social media has highlighted an unusual “Strike First” message allegedly issued by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in response to Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale deployments in forward zones.
The Indian government, on the other hand, has already suspended Pakistani overflights, revoked visas, and shut the Attari-Wagah land crossing, indicating a strong diplomatic and military response in the aftermath of the attack.
