ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Interior has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the outdoor flying of drones and quadcopters, citing the prevailing security environment, and directed provincial authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the order.
In an official notification issued on February 27, the ministry stated that “in view of the prevailing security environment, it has been decided to impose an immediate ban on outdoor flying of quadcopters/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with immediate effect and until further orders”.
The directive applies across the country and has been communicated to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the chief commissioner Islamabad.
The notification further instructs that “the Provincial Governments are requested to ensure strict enforcement of the said ban”.
Authorities have been directed to initiate immediate action against any violations.
According to officials, police and district administrations have been ordered to launch a crackdown against individuals found violating the ban. The ministry also made it clear that drones and quadcopters would not be permitted near sensitive and public installations.
The circular has also been forwarded to Inspectors General of Police in all provinces, additional chief secretaries (Home), secretaries of home departments, and other relevant security and administrative officials.
Copies of the directive have been sent to the DG (Operations and Response Wing), NIFTAC and NACTA headquarters in Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Office (APM Wing), the Military Operations Directorate at GHQ Rawalpindi, and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior.
The notification emphasises that the ban will remain in force until further orders.
In a related development, a quadcopter drone dropped explosive material on a mosque in Bannu at the time of iftar on Friday evening, injuring five worshippers and triggering a security operation in the area.
The attack occurred in the Mirbaz Barakzai locality of Bannu while congregants were inside the mosque breaking their fast.
Eyewitnesses said an unidentified quadcopter drone approached from an unknown direction and released explosive material within the mosque compound, causing a loud blast and injuring several individuals.
The injured were identified as 18-year-old Hameed Nawaz son of Adil Nawaz, 45-year-old Ali Nawaz son of Muhammad Nawaz, 35-year-old Zahir Shah son of Jahan Shah, 15-year-old Sadr Nawaz son of Bakht Nawaz, and 35-year-old Rashid Nawaz son of Muhammad Nawaz. All belong to Zonda Ghaibi Mirbaz Barkazai.
Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene shortly after receiving information about the incident and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Bannu.
Hospital sources confirmed that all five injured individuals are out of danger and are receiving medical treatment.
Following the blast, police and security forces cordoned off the area and collected evidence from the site.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has initiated an investigation against unidentified suspects.
