LAHORE (Kashmir English): Aviation sources report that flight operations in Lahore’s airspace, which were halted early Thursday morning, have now been fully restored.
As a preventive safety step, the Pakistan Airports Authority had earlier in the day temporarily blocked a number of flight routes.
Flight operations at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport resumed early Friday morning following a temporary suspension. The first flight to land, a private airline arriving from Lahore at 2:01AM, marked the official reopening of air traffic.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) stated that the airport had been closed since 12:00PM on Thursday due to unspecified security or operational reasons. In an official announcement, the PAA confirmed that operations at Karachi airport were “restored immediately.”
A PAA spokesperson noted that all other major airports in the country remained fully operational during the disruption.
“Passengers are advised to stay in close contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules,” the spokesperson added, urging travellers to remain alert as airlines gradually resume normal operations.
In addition, the PAA lifted the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that had affected Lahore’s airspace, reopening 15 air routes to support the restoration of regular flight schedules and streamline air traffic management.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that India temporarily suspended flight operations at 27 airports as a precaution amid concerns over a potential retaliatory strike from Pakistan.
Yesterday, the United Nations (UN) once again called for “maximum restraint” following recent missile strikes by India on parts of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), which resulted in civilian casualties. Pakistan’s subsequent retaliatory response was described as effectively silencing the exchange of fire.
During a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay emphasised that the international community cannot afford a military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The UN has urged maximum restraint to avoid further escalation of conflict after India attacked Pakistan unprovoked, after blaming it for a terrorist attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
