Pakistan has temporarily closed certain routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions at designated times due to military exercises involving Pakistan Air Force fighter jets, according to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Airports Authority.
The spokesperson said that the authority issued a Notice to Airmen on Monday announcing the closure of specific routes within the Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions during scheduled hours.
He explained that the decision was taken in light of anticipated military drills by the Pakistan Air Force, during which several sectors within the two Flight Information Regions will remain closed to commercial air traffic.
As per the notification, the affected air routes will not be available for commercial operations from March 3 to March 31, between 9 am and 3 pm each day. During these hours, civilian flight operations will not be permitted in the designated airspace.
Pakistan has been engaged in conflict with Afghanistan since February 27.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq against the Afghan Taliban following what he described as unprovoked firing from across the border last week.
He stated on Monday that Pakistan’s armed forces have destroyed 182 Afghan Taliban posts, captured 31 positions, and that 415 Afghan Taliban personnel have been killed while more than 580 have been injured since the start of the operation.
