RAWALPINDI: In order to avoid untoward incidents, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has initiated an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging people residing near airports to properly dispose of offal of sacrificial animals on Eidul Azha as they could attract birds, which could pose a threat to aircraft.

On the other hand, the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) authorities have asked the deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock to impose Section 144 to ensure safe flight operation during the festive occasion.

The imposition of Section 144 around the airport areas forbids throwing of garbage, offal, kite flying and drone activities in the funnel areas falling within the approach path of flights.

As part of the awareness campaign, the CAA, in a statement, said banners had been displayed in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Skardu, Faisalabad and other airports.

The CAA has made a special appeal to local residents to organise cleanliness campaigns in their nearby mosques for public awareness and also released an animation video regarding cleanliness.

In the campaign, it is being highlighted that collision of birds with planes could cause major accidents.

On the other hand, the airport authorities have requested the deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock to impose Section 144 to ensure safe flight operations at Islamabad International Airport during Eidul Azha.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Syed Aftab Ali Shah, in a letter to the deputy commissioners, said the vicinity and aircraft approach paths of Islamabad International Airport, which comprised residential colonies and societies, posed a significant risk of attracting bird activities.

The COO said this hazard was exacerbated during Eid where the attraction of offal increased bird activity in the approach and take-off paths of airports which might compromise the safety of aircraft operations.

Therefore, the airport authorities have requested the district administration to impose Section 144 to prohibit ‘pigeon homing, open garbage throwing/dumping, kite flying, use of quad copters/unmanned drones and use of laser beam lights’.

A senior police official when asked whether they have been tasked to check bird attractants, garbage dumps, offal and other source of bird attraction, he said: “Police have no direct role as they are just supporting the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) to enforce the chief minister’s direction and law.”

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2024