Defense Minister Khawaja Asif informed the National Assembly that the closure of Pakistan’s airspace to India earlier this year caused a loss of Rs4.1 billion to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), but emphasized that protecting national sovereignty remains the top priority over economic considerations.
Airspace closed for Indian aircraft
In a written reply during the National Assembly’s Question Hour, the defence minister said Pakistan’s airspace remained closed from April 24 to June 30, 2025, for all Indian aircraft. The decision was taken in connection with the 'Marka-e-Haq', a period of heightened tensions between the two countries during which Pakistan suffered some financial losses.
He noted that 100 to 150 Indian flights were affected daily during the closure, while Pakistan’s overall air traffic saw a decline of around 20%. Despite the economic setback, he reiterated that national defense outweighed monetary losses.
Financial impact on aviation
According to the minister, the closure caused the PAA to lose Rs4.1 billion in revenue from overflying charges. He also recalled that a similar restriction in 2019, during a previous period of Pakistan-India tensions, resulted in an even higher loss of Rs7.6 billion for the authority.
The minister further shared that before such tensions, Pakistan’s daily earnings from overflying rights averaged $508,000. However, he stressed that “defending national sovereignty and security does not cost much” when compared to the value of safeguarding the homeland.
Reciprocal restrictions and PIA’s stability
Khawaja Asif also pointed out that Pakistani aircraft are similarly barred from Indian airspace, which adds to the operational challenges for the national carrier. Despite these hurdles, he stated that PIA demonstrated financial stability during the temporary disruptions.
The defense minister concluded that Pakistan’s airspace remains open to all international airlines except Indian flights, and that the government stands firm on this policy in the interest of national security.
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