Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport were temporarily suspended on Thursday for about three hours due to a rehearsal for the upcoming Pakistan Day flypast scheduled for March 23.
According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), all commercial take-offs and landings were halted from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, with operations expected to fully resume by 1:15 pm after the rehearsal exercise.
Airport officials said aircraft already in the air were instructed to carry additional fuel to manage potential delays caused by temporary airspace restrictions during the drill.
The aviation authority also issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) confirming the suspension of operations and warning that certain air routes within the Lahore Flight Information Region would remain unavailable during the rehearsal period.
The restrictions also affected some flights at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. A private airline, air sial, temporarily held a Karachi-to-Islamabad flight at the airport due to the suspension of operations in the capital.
Airport authorities said departures from Karachi would resume once normal operations are restored in Islamabad.
Officials clarified that the temporary restrictions are part of preparations for the March 23 Pakistan Day flypast, one of the key highlights of the national celebrations.
