Punjab Makes “No Bird Zone” Near Lahore Airport to Increase Planes’ Safety

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.”