Drone Laws in Pakistan (2026 Guide)
Yes, owning a camera drone is legal in Pakistan, but it comes with rules. Under the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024, every drone must be registered with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) within 15 days of purchase, and drones over 250 g need a Remote Pilot Licence. On top of that, outdoor flying bans have been in force in 2026. This guide explains the rules in plain English, with sources and dates. Last checked: October 2026.
Updated 8 November 2026
The main law: Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024
Pakistan's drone rules are the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules, 2024. Geo News reported on 16 June 2024 that the government had issued them, and The Nation (17 June 2024) reported that registering drones is now mandatory. The PCAA is the body that registers drones and issues pilot licences.
One point is not fully clear. Dawn (24 June 2024) described the text as a draft finalised by the Aviation Ministry and waiting for federal cabinet approval. We could not confirm the final gazette notification, so treat some details (marked below) as unverified. A planned Civil Drone Regulatory Authority was approved in 2021, but The News on Sunday (6 April 2025) called it "long-promised" and inactive. In practice, the PCAA is the regulator.
Last checked: October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Weight categories
The rules sort drones by maximum take-off weight (Geo News, 16 June 2024; Dawn, 24 June 2024):
- Category I: up to 250 g (for example the DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI Mini 4 Pro) with its standard battery, or the DJI Neo (DJI Neo))
- Category II: over 250 g up to 10 kg (most Air, Mavic, Matrice and Autel EVO II models)
- Category III: over 10 kg up to 25 kg
- Category IV: over 25 kg up to 100 kg
- Over 100 kg: treated like a manned aircraft
Weight is measured at take-off, so accessories and bigger batteries count. Our 249g drones explained (249g Drones Explained for Pakistani Buyers) guide covers why a "Plus" battery can move a Mini drone into Category II.
Registration: every drone, within 15 days
All drones must be registered with the PCAA, whatever their weight. People who buy a drone after the rules came into force must apply within 15 days (Geo News, 16 June 2024). Registration is renewed every three years, each drone gets a unique registration mark, and one person may not register more than three drones of the same category in a calendar year. Dawn reported that the PCAA Director General decides on an application within 60 days.
No source we found exempts Category I drones from registration. Under-250 g drones skip the pilot licence and track-and-trace rules, not registration. The full steps are in our drone registration guide (How to Register a Drone in Pakistan).
Remote Pilot Licence for drones over 250 g
Anyone flying a Category II, III or IV drone needs a Remote Pilot Licence (RPL). Geo News (16 June 2024) listed the requirements: at least 18 years old, a secondary school certificate or equivalent, training from an approved organisation, and passing a PCAA knowledge and skills test. Category I pilots do not need a licence.
Registered drones over 250 g must also carry a track-and-trace system (Unmanned Airspace, June 2024). See the Remote Pilot Licence guide (Remote Pilot Licence (Drone Licence) in Pakistan) for details.
Where and how you may fly
Under the draft text reported by Dawn (24 June 2024), a flight needs no extra permission only if it meets the standard conditions:
- inside permitted airspace
- within your visual line of sight
- no higher than 200 feet (about 60 m) above ground
- in daylight and good weather
Anything else needs permission from the PCAA Director General. Prior written permission is also needed for flights over city or town precincts, within 6 to 12 km of an aerodrome, over territorial waters, in controlled airspace, and over private property without the owner's consent. Category II to IV operators must also log flights in the CAA's electronic system. More on this in our no-fly zones guide (Drone No-Fly Zones in Pakistan).
2026 flying bans come on top of the rules
Even a registered drone with a licensed pilot may not be allowed outdoors right now. On 27 February 2026 the Ministry of Interior suspended all outdoor commercial and private drone flights nationwide "until further notice" (Express Tribune and Dawn, 27 February 2026). Provinces added Section 144 orders: Punjab has renewed 30-day outdoor bans several times, the latest reported by The Nation on 29 September 2026, and Sindh announced a 60-day ban on 27 April 2026 (ARY News).
We found no report that the national order has been lifted (unverified as of October 2026). Check our drone ban status tracker (Drone Ban Status in Pakistan: Federal and Provincial Tracker) and confirm with your district administration before any flight.
Import and export rules
The rules say people must register before importing or exporting drones, and imports of Category III and IV drones need Ministry of Defence clearance (Geo News, 16 June 2024). Earlier reporting (Dawn, 11 April 2021) said legal imports needed a Ministry of Defence NOC. Whether that NOC still applies to small drones in 2026 is unverified. Read the drone import rules guide (Drone Import Rules in Pakistan) for the legal process.
Fines and penalties
Breaking the rules can bring a fine of up to Rs 100,000, plus up to Rs 10,000 for each day the violation continues (Geo News, 16 June 2024; Dawn, 24 June 2024). Section 144 orders are enforced separately by the police and district administration under the Code of Criminal Procedure, and drones can be seized during enforcement.
The simple way to stay safe: register your drone, get a licence if it weighs over 250 g, check the ban status, and stay out of restricted areas.
Quick checklist before every flight
Use this short list each time you plan to fly:
- Is the drone registered with the PCAA, and is the registration still valid (renewal every three years)?
- Does it weigh over 250 g with the battery and accessories you are using? If yes, do you hold a Remote Pilot Licence?
- Is outdoor flying currently allowed in your district, or do you have written permission?
- Are you away from airports, city precincts, military or sensitive sites, and private property without consent?
- Will you stay within line of sight, below 200 feet, in daylight and good weather?
If any answer is no or unsure, do not fly until it is sorted out. New to drones? Our how to fly a drone (How to Fly a Drone (Beginner Guide)) guide covers the basics.
