Punjab government directed district administration and Wildlife Department, and Environment Protection Authority to address the bird hazard around airports and implemented 'ring fencing' by declaring various areas of Lahore as 'No Bird Zones'.
The operation will start from areas including Lahore Eastern Bypass, Manawan Hospital, Dahori Wala, PKLI, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Ichhra, and Chah Miran.
On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a major operation has been launched to ensure aircraft safety within Lahore's boundaries.
Punjab government has ordered the closure of illegal slaughterhouses and poultry farms near airports.
Strict enforcement of waste disposal regulations for bakeries operating in these zones has also been mandated.
Environmental protection protocols will be strictly applied to industries such as leather processing and tanneries. Open washing of animal hides and improper waste disposal near airports have been banned. Covered trash bins will be mandatory, and waste dumping in open areas near airports is strictly prohibited.
Wildlife Rangers have been instructed to launch immediate operations, with official notifications issued. The Punjab government has further banned feeding birds on rooftops, keeping and flying large numbers of pigeons, and feeding birds in shrines and public spaces to prevent mass gatherings of birds near airports.
Violators will face action under the Punjab Wildlife Act, including arrests, fines, and penalties. The government emphasized that bird strikes during aircraft take-off, landing, and low-altitude flights pose serious risks, with over 90 percent of such incidents occurring below 3,000 feet, as per ICAO and IATA standards.
Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb stated that these steps are crucial for safer air travel and to protect hundreds of lives. She said that ring fencing and the establishment of No Bird Zones near airports are standard practices worldwide to prevent aviation accidents.
