Islamabad airport to shut for flights ahead of Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has announced temporary suspensions of flight operations at Islamabad International Airport on specific days in August due to rehearsals for the Independence Day parade.

According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), all flights will be halted from 8pm to 10pm on August 11, 12 and 13, with airlines instructed not to schedule any operations during these hours.

The NOTAM further states that from August 6 to 9 and August 11 to 14, daytime flights will also face intermittent suspensions, including a two-hour pause from 11am to 1pm.

The PAA has advised passengers to confirm their flight timings before travelling to avoid inconvenience.

The authority has also directed airlines to adjust schedules accordingly and inform travellers of any changes.

According to the PAA officials, the temporary restrictions are part of security and logistical preparations for Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day celebrations, set to take place in the federal capital with full official protocol.

First Iran Air flight lands in Quetta

Earlier, on Friday, PAA announced that regional air connectivity has taken a step forward as Iran Air’s inaugural flight from Zahedan to Quetta touched down on Thursday night.

According to the authority, flight IR-824, an Airbus A319, landed at 9:15pm with 75 passengers on board and departed at 11:30pm.

The launch was marked by a small ceremony attended by officials from the Iranian consulate, business leaders, and representatives of the PAA and Airport Security Force (APS).

Passengers were received in the CIP lounge with tea, water, and biscuits, while airport staff ensured a smooth operation.

The PAA said that weekly service from Zahedan to Quetta will operate every Thursday, aiming to boost people-to-people contact and trade links between the two neighbouring countries.