The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) announced on Thursday that flight operations at Lahore, Sialkot, and Karachi airports have been temporarily halted until 12pm, citing current regional tensions and operational concerns.
The suspensions at Lahore and Sialkot were introduced due to the rising security concerns following heightened tensions with India, while the pause in operations at Karachi and Islamabad airports was also confirmed, though Islamabad’s suspension was specifically attributed to “operational reasons.”
Passengers have been urged to remain in contact with their airlines for the latest updates on their flights.
Officials stated the move was necessary in light of the overall national security situation.
Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, the PAA had confirmed the return to normal flight operations nationwide after a brief airspace shutdown.
That closure followed increased cross-border tensions sparked by Indian missile strikes late Tuesday into Wednesday, which hit several locations in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In retaliation, Pakistan’s military reported shooting down five Indian Air Force jets and a combat drone, and said it had also destroyed an Indian brigade headquarters in its counterattack.