A ban has been imposed on serving food at night and dumping waste in the open at hotels and marriage halls in areas around Karachi Airport.
According to details, a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to review measures aimed at preventing bird strikes involving aircraft around Karachi Airport and improving aviation safety.
During the meeting, officials reviewed the airport’s four-kilometre “funnel zone” and identified locations that could attract birds. A list of around 25 to 30 hotels, restaurants and marriage halls located within the zone was also examined.
It was decided that hotel and marriage hall owners would be required to improve their waste management systems and appoint sanitation staff to ensure proper disposal of food and other waste.
The meeting decided to completely ban the open dumping of food and garbage at night. Waste will instead have to be properly packed in polythene bags and transported to designated collection points.
Officials also discussed measures to prevent the movement of kites and other birds towards the airport during nighttime and early morning hours, when the risk of bird strikes can increase.
Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi directed the deputy commissioners of Malir and Korangi to submit comprehensive reports within three weeks outlining measures to reduce the risk of bird strikes involving aircraft.
Officials from the Pakistan Airports Authority, the deputy commissioners of Malir and Korangi, the managing director of the Solid Waste Management Board and the Faisal Cantonment Board attended the meeting.
The measures are aimed at reducing the presence of birds around the airport and minimising the risk of bird-aircraft collisions.