The recent reports circulating on social media and mainstream media claiming that Pakistan’s airspace has been “partially closed” for commercial flights are completely misleading and misinformed. According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the country’s airspaces are operating as usual, with the exception of specific Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes in Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions (FIR) temporarily unavailable due to operational reasons.
The restricted routes will be closed from 0900 to 1500 hours (PST) from March 3 to 13, 2026, and this decision was taken in the interest of operational safety. Pakistan’s airspaces remain fully operational, safe, and accessible to all civil aviation, including commercial flights, with no disruptions to air traffic services. Alternative routes are being used for affected areas, and there are no restrictions on arrival, departure, or overflights.
Our air traffic controllers and all airport teams are fully active and controlling traffic as usual. The Pakistan CAA urges media outlets and social media users to share accurate information and avoid sensational or misleading headlines that may cause unnecessary anxiety among travelers.
In other news, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman visited the Iranian embassy in Islamabad. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Israel’s Netaanyahu has attempted to divert international attention from Gaza by launching a strike on Iran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a parliamentary leaders’ meeting to discuss the global situation.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the Prime Minister has not made a decision to leave the country, and that God willing, he will be released before Eid. “It seems that this region will be hit by unrest in the coming days,” he added. The PTI leader emphasized that the issue should be resolved under a large economic program with a political perspective.
According to the Ministry of Information, 188 Afghan Taliban posts were destroyed, and 31 were captured by the Afghan forces. A federal minister said that the Taliban regime was responsible for the attacks on Pakistan. The Pakistan Army has taken control of the Afghan Taliban post in Paktika, hoisting the Pakistani flag.
The security forces have issued an alert for Pakistani citizens in Saudi Arabia. Pakistani citizens in Saudi Arabia are advised to remain calm and follow the instructions of the Saudi government. The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh has issued an advisory for Pakistani citizens in the country.
The sister of PTI leader Imran Khan said that all parliamentary leaders will be invited to the meeting. The authorities said that the family members of Imran Khan have left for Adyala Jail. A domestic helper in Lahore’s Nishat Colony has stolen jewelry worth 80 lakh and a watch. A person injured during the protest outside the American Consulate in Karachi has died. The Met Office has forecast a clear sky with sunny conditions throughout the week.
The rally was held in compliance with the instructions of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, with a large number of students, faculty, and administrative staff attending. According to sources, Mojtaba Khamenei’s nephew, Mojtaba, has taken over as the new commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, a day after the former commander’s assassination.
The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will not use its airspace for attacks on Iran. Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Indian opposition party Congress, said that the Indian government has ignored its long-standing ally, Iran. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that Iran did not inform Qatar about the missile attacks before they happened.
Russia has warned about the potential for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The UAE authorities have emphasized that they will not compromise on their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
