This decision has been made to prevent bird strikes, which become more common during the monsoon season. The rainy weather brings more birds near the airport, especially early in the morning, increasing the risk of accidents during flight takeoffs and landings.

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Bird strikes can seriously damage aircraft. Last year, Lahore recorded the highest number of such incidents in Pakistan, with 28 cases. Islamabad had 18 bird strikes while Karachi reported 17. Multan and Faisalabad also faced similar issues with 14 and 6 incidents respectively. In total, nine Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft were damaged last year, leading to costly repairs.

This year, authorities have already recorded 25 bird strike cases. To avoid further damage and ensure passenger safety, the airport has decided to close its runways during the hours when bird activity is highest.

All domestic and international airlines have been told to update their flight schedules accordingly. However, in case of emergencies, pilots will be allowed to use the runway if necessary.