Pakistan has announced the closure of specific portions of Karachi and Lahore airspace citing security reasons.
The country has put all its airports on high alert amid mounting tensions with India after the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan has been building up its military deployments along the border anticipating retaliatory strikes by New Delhi.
The restricted airspace will be closed daily in May from 4:00 am to 8:00 am local time.
The Civil Aviation Authority said that the closure will not significantly affect commercial flight operations. The Authority also added that during the restricted hours, the aircraft will be rerouted via alternative flight paths.
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The closure of airspace comes a day after Pakistan's national carrier cancelled all flights to and from Gilgit, Skardu and other northern areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir due to security reasons.
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir has killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Though Pakistan has denied India's allegation that Islamabad was behind the attack, the relationship between both countries hit a new low.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a high-level meeting and gave complete operational freedom for the armed forces to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India's response to the terror attack.
Pakistan has demanded an independent and transparent probe by neutral investigators in the Pahalgam attack.
Regarding the air traffic restrictions, authorities confirmed that traffic in and out of major airports such as Jinnah International in Karachi and Allama Iqbal International in Lahore will continue with minimal adjustment.
New directives to all flight movements, including foreign airlines transiting through Pakistani airspace, were issued by the Air Traffic Control authorities.
