A fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued early Thursday morning announced the closure of several air routes linked to these cities.

The airspace restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 12 noon today, citing operational reasons.

“Multiple commercial air routes within Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot have been closed,” the NOTAM stated, without disclosing further specifics.

As a result of the restrictions, several Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights have been impacted. A flight from Medina bound for Lahore was rerouted to Karachi, while another flight from Multan to Lahore was also diverted due to the sudden airspace limitations. One affected flight, originally scheduled to land in Lahore at 4:15 a.m., was unable to do so.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and airport management are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of passengers and the continuity of essential flight operations. An airport spokesperson advised travelers to stay in contact with their respective airlines for real-time updates.

Meanwhile, operations at Islamabad International Airport remain subject to prior clearance from Air Traffic Control. The NOTAM advised all departing flights to secure approval from Islamabad ATC in advance.

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Interestingly, this development follows a reassuring statement from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) issued just a day earlier, which confirmed that all airports across the country were fully operational.

The PAA had emphasised that domestic and international flights were proceeding smoothly, including at Sialkot, where operations had briefly paused but had since resumed.

These sudden airspace restrictions come amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, further fueling speculation over the strategic security environment in the region.