RAWALPINDI: The local police and district administration have been told to restrict pigeon and kite flying in the vicinity of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Nur Khan, where coronavirus relief flights as well as operational flying and VVIP flying commitments are undertaken.

Bird strikes can cause millions of dollars worth of damages to aircraft and engines; airports are responsible for bird control, and bird shooters are deployed near runways along with other preventive measures.

Following an increase in pigeon and kite flying, aprovincial bird hazard control committee was formed in March this year. In its first session, the Punjab chief secretary had reiterated that flight safety hazards around flying bases would be dealt with as a priority.

According to a senior police official, Nur Khan base authorities have sought the police and administration’s help to implement section 144 around the airbase in order to restrict kite flying and pigeon flying in the area.

The authorities believe these activities post a potential hazard to aircraft safety and could result in serious consequences, particularly to the aircraft, engine and propellers.

The base authorities have told the administration that extensive flying operations, including operational flying, coronavirus relief flights and VVIP commitments, take place at the base and these hazards could damage multi-million dollar machines, which not only causes a loss to national assets but also effects other activities during a war situation.

They said aprovincial bird hazard control committee has been formed and its first meeting was held on March 14, chaired by the Punjab chief secretary.

The authorities said joint efforts are needed to curb these hazards.

Following directives from Regional Police Officer Sohail Habib Tajik and City Police Officer Mohammad Ahsan Younas, the district police have cracked down on kite flying and selling, seizing hundreds of kites and string as well as arresting suspected kite smugglers and kite flyers.

Flying and selling kites has already been banned by the Punjab government.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020