Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has initiated a strategic program to enhance aviation safety by declaring the areas surrounding Lahore’s airports as “No Bird Zones”, according to a report.
The move is aimed at minimizing bird strikes—a significant hazard to aircraft—through coordinated efforts involving the district administration, the Wildlife Department, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). As part of the plan, aerial safety buffers or “ring fencing” will be established at multiple locations to divert bird activity from flight paths.
To reinforce the initiative, Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has been assigned to operationalize Punjab’s first dedicated Wildlife Force, which will collaborate with Wildlife Rangers to monitor and secure vulnerable zones.
Several concrete measures are being enforced:
- Closure of unauthorized poultry farms and slaughterhouses near airports
- A ban on open waste disposal and mandatory use of sealed garbage containers
- Tighter controls on bakeries, leather tanneries, and industrial units lacking proper environmental safeguards
- Immediate crackdown on bird-attracting sites, as per the Punjab Wildlife Act
The Wildlife Department has issued official instructions to start on-ground enforcement, and violators will face fines, legal penalties, or arrest.
Minister Aurangzeb underscored that the initiative is in line with international safety standards, stating:
“Creating No Bird Zones near airports is standard practice globally. We are implementing this strategy in Punjab to ensure safer air travel and minimize the risk of bird strikes.”
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It’s nothing new which Punjab Government can take credit of. As per International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards And Recommended Practices, it is obligatory on member states to ensure flight safety. This has been translated by Pakistan long ago through enactment of Civil Aviation Ordinance 1960; Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance 1982 (now repealed and new legislation is in the field); an Ordinance of 1965 to combat Bird Hazard; Civil Aviation Rules 1994 and Statutory Regulatory Orders (SRO) issued by the Federal Government. Punjab Government, along with all other Provincial Governments, are duty-bound to enforce these regulations.