Flight operations suspended at Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot airports

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) announced on Thursday that flight operations at Lahore, Sialkot and Karachi airports have been temporarily suspended until 12pm due to prevailing regional tensions and operational considerations.

According to the PAA, the suspensions at Lahore and Sialkot airports were implemented in light of the current security situation following heightened tensions between Pakistan and India.

The authority also confirmed that operations at Karachi and Islamabad airports were suspended, with Islamabad’s suspension attributed to “operational reasons.”

Passengers have been advised to stay in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding flight schedules.

Airport authorities said the decision was made due to the current national security situation. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the PAA confirmed that all airports across the country had resumed normal operations after a brief suspension of national airspace.

The temporary closure of airspace followed cross-border tensions that escalated after Indian forces conducted missile strikes in various locations within Pakistan, including cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday-Wednesday night.

In response to the strikes, Pakistan’s armed forces reported intercepting and downing five Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets and a combat drone. The military also claimed to have destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters in retaliatory action.