The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Sunday firmly rejected what it called “false and misleading” claims about an alleged eight-day shutdown of Islamabad International Airport, releasing the official schedule for short-term closures.
PAA spokesperson Saifullah Khan clarified that, according to Notams (Notices to Airmen), limited flight suspensions are planned due to aerial activities ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations on August 14. These suspensions will last only two hours on specific days, not eight consecutive days as reported in some media outlets.
Islamabad Airport Closure Timings
August 6–9 and August 11–14: All arrivals and departures paused from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (PST).
August 9 and August 11: Additional suspension from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Apart from these brief windows, all operations will run normally. The PAA has urged travelers to confirm flight details with their respective airlines to avoid inconvenience.
This year, Independence Day celebrations will be held under the theme “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth), commemorating the May skirmishes with India and highlighting the nation’s resilience, unity, and progress. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed that the theme be observed in schools, universities, provincial events, and overseas gatherings coordinated by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis.
During the four-day Pakistan-India conflict earlier this year, flight operations were severely disrupted, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at major airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot. The Defence Ministry informed the National Assembly that these closures caused losses of Rs 4.1 billion to the PAA between April 24 and June 30.
Separately, the PAA has announced a temporary daily runway closure at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport from 5:00 am to 8:00 am between July 1 and September 15 to reduce bird strike risks.
