Concerns arise over anti-aircraft weapons in remote Sindh areas
Reports of armed individuals displaying anti-aircraft weaponry in the riverine regions of Sindh have raised significant aviation concerns, particularly within the global flying community, following their circulation on social media platforms.
Khaqan Murtaza, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), acknowledged that the viral images depicting outlaws brandishing anti-aircraft guns had created a critical situation. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the integrity of Pakistani airspace remains intact.
Murtaza clarified that while some of the featured photographs dated back several years, their recent propagation through news outlets exacerbated the situation. Consequently, the European aviation regulator issued an advisory pertaining to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s
airspace is completely safe: PCAA
On July 28, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a cautionary notice, classifying low-altitude flights in Karachi and Lahore as "high risk" due to the prevailing security circumstances in Pakistan.
The advisory cited the "presence of violent non-state actor groups equipped with confirmed anti-aviation weaponry, potentially MANPADS (man-portable air-defense systems)," posing a "high risk to civil aviation operations below flight level (FL) 260, or 26,000 feet."
The CAA Director General informed that the aviation sector
had engaged with European authorities at the highest level to address concerns
raised by the advisory, emphasizing that it did not align with the ground realities.
He asserted that the issuance of the EASA advisory had been rushed, emphasizing that "there is no imminent danger."
Pakistan
issues updated flight guidelines for Afghanistan flights
Additionally, he voiced concerns over the potential adverse impact of the EASA advisory on the domestic aviation sector.
The EASA advisory also made reference to a prior advisory from the United Kingdom, although the European regulator was informed that UK flights were inbound to Pakistan.
According to the EASA, the advisory will remain in effect until January 31, 2024.
Source: Express Tribune