How far from an airport can I fly a drone in Pakistan?

The 2024 rules, as reported by Dawn, require prior written permission within 6 to 12 km of an aerodrome. Stay well away from all airports and air bases unless you have PCAA permission.

Can I fly a drone in Lahore or Karachi?

City and town precincts need prior written permission under the 2024 rules, and in 2026 both Punjab and Sindh have had Section 144 drone bans. Check the current status with your district administration first.

What is the drone height limit in Pakistan?

200 feet (about 60 m) above ground for standard flights, according to the rules reported by Dawn in June 2024. Higher flights need permission.

Does DJI's app show Pakistani no-fly zones?

DJI's GEO zones show many airports, but they are DJI's own maps and may not match Pakistani rules or Section 144 orders. Always check the official rules.

Drone kahan nahi uda sakte?

Airport ke 6 se 12 km ke andar, shehar ke upar, fauji ya sarkari jagah ke qareeb, aur kisi ki zaati property ke upar bina ijazat drone nahi uda sakte. 200 feet se upar aur raat ko udane ke liye bhi ijazat chahiye. 2026 ki pabandiyon ki wajah se pehle apni district administration se zaroor poochein.

Drone No-Fly Zones in Pakistan

In Pakistan you need prior written permission to fly a drone over city or town precincts, within 6 to 12 km of an aerodrome, over territorial waters, in controlled airspace, or over private property without the owner's consent. Standard flights must stay below 200 feet, in daylight and within sight. On top of this, outdoor flying bans have been in force in 2026. Here is what that means in practice, with sources. Last checked: October 2026.

Updated 8 November 2026

The rules behind no-fly zones

No-fly areas come from the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Rules 2024. Dawn (24 June 2024) reported the draft text, which says flights in restricted airspace need prior written permission from the PCAA Director General or an officer acting for him. Geo News (16 June 2024) and The Nation (17 June 2024) confirmed the rules were issued, though Dawn described them as awaiting cabinet approval at the time. The final gazette text is unverified, so details may differ.

Last checked: October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

Restricted areas that need written permission

According to Dawn (24 June 2024), you need prior written permission to fly:

within city or town precincts
within 6 to 12 km of an aerodrome (airport or airfield)
over territorial waters
in airspace the Director General has designated as controlled
over property whose owner has not given consent
in any other area named by the drones coordination committee

Note the first point: most of Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and other cities fall within city precincts. Flying over a city normally needs written permission, even when no ban is in force.

Airports and airfields

Airports are the most serious no-fly zone. The rules mention a 6 to 12 km buffer around aerodromes. This covers major airports such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and also smaller airfields, flying clubs and military air bases. Drones near approach and departure paths are a real danger to aircraft.

DJI drones include GEO zone maps that warn you or block take-off near many airports, but these maps are made by DJI, not the PCAA, and may not match Pakistani rules. A drone taking off normally does not mean the flight is legal.

Military, government and sensitive sites

Do not fly near military areas, cantonments, government buildings, police and security installations, prisons, power plants, dams, border areas or VIP routes. Many of these are controlled or restricted airspace, and given the 2026 security situation, flying near them can lead to arrest and seizure of the drone. Militant use of drones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was reported in 2025 (The Diplomat, August 2025), and authorities take unknown drones very seriously.

Standard conditions: height, daylight and line of sight

Outside restricted areas, a flight needs no extra permission only if it meets the standard conditions (Dawn, 24 June 2024):

no higher than 200 feet (about 60 m) above ground level
within your visual line of sight at all times
in daylight
in good weather

DJI apps often allow 120 m by default. Set the maximum altitude to 60 m in the DJI Fly or Autel Sky app to stay within the 200-foot limit. Night flights, flights beyond sight and higher flights need permission from the Director General.

People, crowds and private property

Flying over someone's land, house or event without their consent needs written permission under the rules. Avoid flying over crowds, roads, markets and gatherings, and respect privacy: filming people in homes or private spaces can also break other laws. For weddings, follow the venue's and organiser's rules, and in Punjab note that the 2026 Section 144 orders allow small drones only indoors at halls and marquees (The Nation, 29 September 2026).

Indoor flying and practice spaces

Indoor flying inside a private hall, warehouse or marquee is not open airspace, and Punjab's 2026 orders specifically allow small drones indoors at halls and marquees for events (The Nation, 29 September 2026). KP's February 2026 order had a similar indoor exception (Daily Times, 28 February 2026). Still, follow the venue owner's rules and the organiser's safety measures.

Indoors there is no GPS, so drones hold position using downward vision sensors, which need good light and a patterned floor. Small, light drones with propeller guards are safest. The DJI Neo (DJI Neo) has full propeller guards and is built for close-up flying, and Mini models such as the DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI Mini 4 Pro) have obstacle sensing. Keep away from guests' heads, fans and decorations, and keep flights short.

2026 bans: the whole map may be closed

In 2026 the no-fly map has been much larger than the rules alone. On 27 February 2026 the Ministry of Interior suspended all outdoor drone flights nationwide until further notice (Express Tribune; Dawn), and provinces added Section 144 orders. Punjab renewed its 30-day outdoor ban again on 29 September 2026 (The Nation). We found no report of the national order being lifted (unverified).

So right now, most outdoor locations may be off limits, whatever the zone. See the drone ban status tracker (Drone Ban Status in Pakistan: Federal and Provincial Tracker) and confirm with your district administration.

Tourist areas: Hunza, Skardu, Swat and Murree

Northern areas are popular for drone shots, but they often sit near sensitive or border zones, and Gilgit-Baltistan reported an indefinite drone ban in February 2026 (Express Tribune; ARY News). Swat and other KP districts were covered by the KP orders. Ask the local administration before flying, carry your PCAA registration and licence (if your drone is over 250 g), and never fly near checkposts.

How to get permission the legal way

For flights outside the standard conditions or in restricted airspace: apply to the PCAA for written permission.
During Section 144 bans in Punjab: apply to the district Safe Drone Usage Committee for approved work such as agriculture, irrigation or research (The Nation, 29 September 2026).
Elsewhere: contact the Deputy Commissioner's office.
Over private property: get the owner's written consent.

Make sure the drone is registered (How to Register a Drone in Pakistan) and that you hold a Remote Pilot Licence (Remote Pilot Licence (Drone Licence) in Pakistan) if it weighs over 250 g. Read the full drone laws guide (Drone Laws in Pakistan (2026 Guide)) too.