Karachi( The COW News Digital) Severe weather conditions caused by torrential rains across multiple cities in Pakistan have heavily disrupted flight operations, resulting in cancellations, delays, and diversions of several domestic and international flights.
According to airport sources, at least three flights were diverted to alternate airports, while three others were canceled. Dozens more faced significant delays ranging from one to fourteen hours, as relentless rainfall affected visibility and runway conditions.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-734, en route from Paris to Lahore, was forced to land in Multan due to poor weather in the provincial capital. Similarly, a private airline flight 674, which had taken off from Karachi for Islamabad, had to return mid-air to Karachi after encountering dangerous weather patterns.
Another private carrier, flight ER-852, flying from Jeddah to Peshawar, was diverted and landed safely in Lahore, avoiding turbulence over the northern regions.
The worst affected airports include Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. At Islamabad International Airport, 26 flights experienced delays ranging from one to seven hours. Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport reported 16 delayed flights, with delays of up to five hours. Additionally, seven flights between Karachi and Lahore faced delays of one to ten hours.
At Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, 12 flights were delayed, some by as much as 14 hours. Other regional airports such as Peshawar, Skardu, Quetta, Multan, and Sialkot also saw disruptions, with around 15 flights affected due to ongoing weather instability.
Civil Aviation authorities have issued advisories for passengers to check flight schedules in advance and maintain flexibility in travel plans. Airlines are working on rescheduling operations and ensuring passenger safety amid the unpredictable monsoon system, which is expected to persist for the next few days.
Meteorological departments have warned of more rain in the coming week, especially in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, further straining the already affected air traffic system.
The aviation authorities urge passengers to remain patient, as safety remains the top priority in turbulent conditions.
