Drive kicks off to secure Nur Khan Airbase

Rawalpindi admin constitutes teams comprising PAF officers

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi district administration has initiated a crackdown on aerial disturbances near the Nur Khan Airbase, targeting activities such as pigeon flying, kite flying, and aerial firing.

This action comes in response to stringent directives from sensitive institutions.

A high-level committee, comprising key officers from various institutions, has been established for conducting daily operations. This committee includes representatives from the Pakistan Air Force, local police units including the special branch and female police personnel, as well as officials from the district council and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation. Heading this committee is District Officer Civil Defense Talib Hussain.

The operational team comprises five armed police personnel and ten civil defense uniformed personnel. Their recent operation around the air base involved dismantling pigeon houses and large iron nets from rooftops in eleven houses, along with confiscating pigeons.

While intermittent operations were previously conducted, the current directive mandates daily actions. The committee is authorised to enter properties where rooftop pigeon nets obstruct entry, with the female police facilitating access if necessary.

Talib Hussain, the committee's chairperson, confirmed that this operation marks the second phase, following a prior warning issued before Ramazan for residents to remove pigeon nets within a month. Failure to comply now results in severe penalties, including up to six months' imprisonment and fines reaching Rs0.2 million.

The presence of pigeon flying, kite flying, and aerial firing poses risks to aircraft and helicopter operations at the air base, necessitating a ban within five kilometers of the landing and take-off zones.

The recent operation targeted areas adjacent to the airbase, including Chah Sultan and Rawal Road. The agenda includes operations in Jahaz Ground, Dhok Laliyal, and Gangal Shakrial, as the authorities continue their efforts to mitigate these hazards and ensure aviation safety around the Nur Khan Air Base.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2024.