Authorities crack down on pigeon, kite flying

Demolish 21 cages around Nur Khan Airbase ahead of SCO summit

RAWALPINDI:

In preparation for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference in Islamabad, the Rawalpindi district administration has ordered an operation to eliminate pigeon and kite flying within the three-kilometer radius of Nur Khan Air Base.

The measure aims to ensure air safety during the arrival of distinguished guests.

Acting on the directives, the civil defence department and local police launched an extensive operation on Wednesday, targeting areas such as Dhok Gangal, Sadiqabad, Iqbal Town, Shah Khalid Colony, Shah Faisal Colony, Jahaz Ground, Khanna, and Dhok Kala Khan.

During the operation, 21 pigeon cages on rooftops of houses, plazas, and markets were demolished, and a large number of pigeons were confiscated.

Sixteen individuals were arrested for kite flying and fined between 10,000 and 15,000 rupees. Authorities also confiscated kites and strings while imposing a strict ban on the sale of kites in the affected areas.

To address the issue of flocks of kites and crows, which gather around garbage, the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company has intensified daily garbage disposal efforts in the vicinity of the airbase.

The director of Rawalpindi Waste Management Company cancelled leaves for the relevant sanitation teams, ensuring prompt and continuous garbage collection. Sanitation workers have been instructed to maintain cleanliness around the airbase daily, and butchers and chicken shops have been prohibited from disposing of waste in open areas to prevent attracting birds.

District Officer Civil Defence Talib Hussain warned that pigeon fliers must remove their rooftop cages by Thursday. If they fail to comply, the police will demolish the structures, confiscate the pigeons, and file legal cases against the owners.

Authorities have implemented Section 144 in the areas surrounding Nur Khan Air Base, imposing a ban on both pigeon and kite flying to prevent any disruption to airspace safety during the high-profile conference.