Parachinar Airport becomes operational after long hiatus

Published April 27, 2026 Updated April 27, 2026 01:04pm

PESHAWAR: Parachinar Airport in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram District has been reactivated and made operational through the efforts of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), after remaining inactive for an extended period.

The renovation and repair of the airport mark a significant step toward restoring air transport in the region.

On April 26, Pakistan Army Aviation conducted trials at Parachinar Airport to assess the quality of construction and upgradation work, as well as runway functionality and overall operational readiness.

Pakistan Army Aviation completed six successful landing and takeoff trials, after which the airport runways were declared compliant with professional standards and safety protocols.

During the trials, the performance of the airport and runways was evaluated under various operational scenarios.

Following the success of these trials, Parachinar Airport’s operational capacity is expected to be further strengthened, significantly enhancing regional connectivity, emergency response, and economic activity in the area.

Last year, officials from the PAA and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) visited Parachinar Airport to assess its operational feasibility for commercial and humanitarian flights.

The government also formed an eight-member committee of PAA and PIA officers to evaluate the airport’s infrastructure and prospects for reopening.

The committee members conducted a comprehensive inspection of the airport’s infrastructure, including the terminal building, runway, fire garages, accommodation, generator room, and other operational facilities.

Opinion

Editorial

Pathways to peace
Updated 27 Apr, 2026

Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved....
Food-insecure nation
27 Apr, 2026

Food-insecure nation

A NEW UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This...
Migration toll
27 Apr, 2026

Migration toll

THE world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record —...
Immunity gap
Updated 26 Apr, 2026

Immunity gap

Pakistan’s Big Catch-Up campaign showed progress but also exposed the scale of gaps in routine immunisation.
Danger on repeat
26 Apr, 2026

Danger on repeat

DISASTERS have typically been framed as acts of nature. Of late, they look increasingly like tests of preparedness...
Loose lips
26 Apr, 2026

Loose lips

PAKISTANIS have by now gained something of an international reputation for their gallows humour, but it seems that...