Is drone flying banned in Pakistan right now?

The Interior Ministry suspended outdoor drone flights nationwide on 27 February 2026, and we found no report of it being lifted as of October 2026 (unverified). Several provinces also have their own orders. Confirm with your district administration before flying.

Is there a drone ban in Punjab?

Yes. Punjab has renewed 30-day Section 144 bans on outdoor drone flying throughout 2026, the latest reported on 29 September 2026. Small drones are allowed indoors at halls and marquees.

Can I use a drone at a wedding in Lahore?

Under Punjab's latest order, small drones may be used indoors in halls and marquees with safety measures. Outdoor flying needs written permission from the district Safe Drone Usage Committee.

Who gives drone permission during a ban?

In Punjab, district Safe Drone Usage Committees issue written permission for approved work such as agriculture, irrigation and research. Elsewhere, contact the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Kya Punjab mein drone udane par pabandi hai?

Haan, Punjab mein 2026 mein bahar drone udane par Section 144 ke tehat 30 din ki pabandi baar baar barhai gayi hai, aakhri baar 29 September 2026 ko report hui. Hall aur marquee ke andar chhote drone ki ijazat hai. Udane se pehle apne DC office se taaza status zaroor confirm karein.

Drone Ban Status in Pakistan: Federal and Provincial Tracker

Outdoor drone flying has been restricted across Pakistan in 2026. The Ministry of Interior suspended all outdoor drone flights nationwide on 27 February 2026 "until further notice", and provinces added their own Section 144 orders, with Punjab renewing 30-day bans as recently as 29 September 2026. This tracker lists each order we found, with dates and sources. It cannot replace official notices, so confirm with your local authorities before flying. Last checked: October 2026.

Updated 8 November 2026

How to use this tracker

This page lists federal and provincial drone orders reported in 2026, with the date and source for each. Orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure usually last 30 to 60 days and are often renewed, so an order can change after we check. If we could not confirm whether an order is still in force, we say "unverified".

Before any outdoor flight, confirm the current status with your district administration, the Deputy Commissioner's office, the provincial Home Department or local police. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Last checked: October 2026.

Why these bans were imposed

The February 2026 orders followed drone incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including areas around Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, during border tensions with Afghanistan (Express Tribune; Dawn, 27 February 2026). Later Punjab renewals cited security and public safety risks. Because the reason is security, orders can be renewed at short notice, which is why checking locally matters.

Federal: Ministry of Interior order

27 February 2026: the Ministry of Interior ordered an immediate suspension of all outdoor commercial and private drone and quadcopter operations nationwide, "until further notice". Provinces were asked to enforce it. Reason given: security, after drone incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during border tensions with Afghanistan (Express Tribune, 27 February 2026; Dawn, 27 February 2026; Dunya News).
Status in October 2026: we found no report that this order was lifted or relaxed. Unverified, so treat it as possibly still in force.

Punjab

25 February 2026: the Punjab government imposed an immediate 30-day ban on drones under Section 144 (ANI, 25 February 2026; Dawn).
March to September 2026: the 30-day ban was renewed repeatedly; extensions were reported in March, on 29 to 30 June, in August and on 29 September 2026 (The Nation, 30 June 2026 and 29 September 2026; ProPakistani, 30 September 2026).
Exceptions in the latest order: small drones may be used indoors to cover events in halls and marquees, with safety measures by the organisers; intelligence and law enforcement agencies are exempt; district Safe Drone Usage Committees can give written permission for approved work such as agriculture, irrigation and research (The Nation, 29 September 2026).
Status: the order reported on 29 September 2026 would run to about late October 2026. Whether it has been renewed again is unverified at the time of checking.

Sindh

February 2026: Sindh imposed a 60-day ban on drone flying under Section 144 after the federal order (ARY News).
27 April 2026: the Sindh Home Department announced a complete ban on flying drones across the province for 60 days under Section 144 (ARY News, 27 April 2026). That term would have ended around late June 2026.
Status: we found no report of a later extension or of the ban ending. Unverified. Separate Section 144 orders in Karachi in October 2026 covered gatherings and rallies, not drones (24 News, 11 October 2026). The federal order may still apply.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

27 to 28 February 2026: the KP Home Department banned outdoor drone flying across the province for 30 days. Law enforcement and sensitive institutions were exempt, and small drones were allowed for indoor events in halls or marquees (Daily Times, 28 February 2026).
2 March 2026: the KP government announced a temporary ban on private drone flights as a precaution, until further orders (KP Directorate General of Information and Public Relations).
Status: unverified. Given the security situation in KP, assume restrictions apply unless the district administration confirms otherwise.

Islamabad Capital Territory

February 2026: the Islamabad administration banned drones, phantoms and camcopters for two months under Section 144, extendable by two more months, with exemptions only for law enforcement and the administration (Express Tribune and ARY News, February 2026).
Status: we found no report of a specific renewal or of the ban ending. Unverified. The federal order also covers Islamabad.

Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK

Balochistan: province-wide drone ban "until further notice", with police, Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies exempt (Daily Times, 28 February 2026). We found no report of it being lifted. Unverified.
Gilgit-Baltistan: an indefinite ban was reported in February 2026 alongside the federal order (Express Tribune; ARY News). Current status unverified. Tourists planning drone shots in GB should check with local authorities first.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: we found no specific 2026 order. Unverified; the federal order and local orders may apply.

Weddings, events and work during a ban

In Punjab, the latest order allows small drones indoors at halls and marquees, with the organiser responsible for safety (The Nation, 29 September 2026). KP's February order had a similar indoor exception. For outdoor work such as agriculture, surveys, inspections or real estate, apply to the district Safe Drone Usage Committee (Punjab) or the district administration elsewhere, and fly only with written permission.

A ban does not remove the normal rules. Your drone still needs PCAA registration (How to Register a Drone in Pakistan), and drones over 250 g need a Remote Pilot Licence (Remote Pilot Licence (Drone Licence) in Pakistan). Read the full drone laws guide (Drone Laws in Pakistan (2026 Guide)) too.

Can I still buy a drone during a ban?

The orders we found restrict flying, not owning or buying. Many buyers purchase now for indoor event work or for when restrictions ease. If you buy from Syed Non Custom Drones, register the drone within 15 days as the law requires, and only fly where and when it is allowed. See how to order (How to Order) for store details.