KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway closed for repairs from May 10 to May 18
- The notice mentions “WIP” (Work in Progress), indicating repairs on the runway
- Rahim Yar Khan is a key military airbase in southern Punjab
After India’s military strike on the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan’s Punjab province, the only runway at the airbase has been shut down for a week. This was confirmed through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday evening.
The runway closure started at 4 PM (Pakistan time) on May 10 and will last until 4:59 AM on May 18.
The notice says the runway is closed because of “work in progress,” but it doesn’t give any more details.
The timing of the closure suggests that the runway was likely hit by an Indian missile and now needs major repairs.
The airbase, located in southern Punjab, is an important military facility for Pakistan. The notice simply said: “Runway not available for flight operation – work in progress.”
What “WIP” Means
In aviation notices, “WIP” stands for “Work In Progress.” Both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the U.S. FAA use “WIP” to show that repair or construction work is happening on an airport surface.
Why Rahim Yar Khan’s Runway Is Closed
The only runway at Rahim Yar Khan airbase and Sheikh Zayed International Airport (Runway 01/19) is closed for repairs (“WIP”). This runway is 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) long and has a bitumen (paved) surface. The timing and duration of the closure (May 10 to May 18) suggest it was damaged in India’s recent missile strike and now needs major repair work.
How This Fits into the Bigger Picture
India carried out precision strikes on six key Pakistani military sites (including Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Sukkur, and Chunian) using air-launched guided weapons. These strikes came after days of cross-border attacks and were part of a four-day conflict that ended with a ceasefire on Saturday evening.
The action was itself in response to Operation Sindoor (India’s strikes on terror camps after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists). After India carried out precise air strikes on terrorist camps early Wednesday, tensions between India and Pakistan got much worse. Pakistan responded by launching drone and missile attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. In return, India defended itself and then struck back by targeting Pakistani military bases in different parts of Pakistan.
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