EPA launches surveillance to eliminate bird nesting around airports
Using advanced technologies, the identification of bird nests in sensitive areas, including Lahore, is progressing swiftly. The EPA's aerial surveillance squad is actively conducting drone-based monitoring and video recording. Locations of all vulnerable nests are being digitally mapped.
In case of heightened risk of air accidents, immediate 'de-nesting' operations — the removal of nests — will be initiated. The EPA has devised a rapid response strategy to mitigate bird-related threats near airports and other sensitive zones.
According to the de-nesting report dated July 24, the EPA squad conducted a successful operation near Safe Garrison and Harbanspura Ring Road, removing 20 kite and 30 crow nests. The area has since been declared clear of threats.
Senior Minister Punjab Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that bird nests pose a serious danger to aircraft, urging citizens to avoid scattering bird feed on rooftops or in open spaces. She stressed that public cooperation is vital for ensuring aerial safety and warned that violators will face strict action.
A coordinated crackdown by district administration is underway to prevent bird-related air hazards near airports. Five successful operations were carried out in areas like Badian Road and Gulshan Park, where pigeon cages were dismantled and other potential bird habitats were eliminated.
Actions were also taken against poultry and meat shops operating in open areas of Nishat Colony and others. Four shops were fined and shutdown on the spot. Citizens have been urged not to discard sacrificial or leftover meat in open areas, as it attracts birds that may contribute to air accidents.
The EPA teams inspected wedding halls and restaurants for improper food waste disposal, issuing notices to three venues for non-compliance. On Khurshid Alam Road, unnecessary tree branches were trimmed to remove nests and control the bird population. Garbage was cleared from Javed Cheema Chowk, Zarrar Shaheed Road, and Jore Pul, as authorities noted that open waste is a major cause of bird congregation. Surveillance has been intensified from Dharampura to Jallo and along Canal Road, where sacrificial meat sellers have been identified.
Local vendors have been directed to comply with regulations. At the PAF Golf Club, a wildlife team removed 20 crow and 15 kite nests to help secure the airspace.
Minister Maryam Aurangzeb added that the Lahore wildlife team is now heading toward Safe Garrison and Harbanspura Ring Road for the next phase of operations, fully prepared to curb bird breeding activities as part of the strategic plan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt urged to declare new ‘marine protected areas'
KARACHI: The WWF-Pakistan has urged the Sindh government to declare new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the province's coast to safeguard fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity, particularly in the ecologically important regions of Pitiani and Dabbo Creeks in the Indus Delta. The call came as part of the organization's statement ahead of World Marine Protected Areas Day, marked globally on August 1. Recognizing recent conservation progress, WWF-Pakistan lauded the government of Balochistan for its declaration of Miani Hor as the country's third MPA on July 29. The site joins Astola Island and Churna Island, declared MPAs in 2017 and 2024 respectively. These efforts, WWF-Pakistan noted, mark the beginning of a new chapter for marine conservation in Pakistan, achieved through sustained collaboration between government bodies, conservation groups, wildlife experts, and coastal communities. The establishment of MPAs is considered critical for meeting international biodiversity goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to which Pakistan is a signatory. The framework commits countries to protecting 30 percent of global oceans by 2030—a target known as '30 by 30.' WWF-Pakistan's Director General Hammad Naqi Khan emphasized that the country's coastal and marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from overfishing, destructive fishing gear, untreated sewage, plastic pollution, and the broader effects of climate change. He stressed the need for both federal and Sindh governments to take decisive steps to declare additional MPAs and protect vulnerable marine areas. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-07-2025
- Business Recorder
EPA launches surveillance to eliminate bird nesting around airports
LAHORE: The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday announced that it will complete comprehensive e-mapping of bird cages and nests in Lahore and other sensitive areas within two days through its dedicated aerial surveillance force. Using advanced technologies, the identification of bird nests in sensitive areas, including Lahore, is progressing swiftly. The EPA's aerial surveillance squad is actively conducting drone-based monitoring and video recording. Locations of all vulnerable nests are being digitally mapped. In case of heightened risk of air accidents, immediate 'de-nesting' operations — the removal of nests — will be initiated. The EPA has devised a rapid response strategy to mitigate bird-related threats near airports and other sensitive zones. According to the de-nesting report dated July 24, the EPA squad conducted a successful operation near Safe Garrison and Harbanspura Ring Road, removing 20 kite and 30 crow nests. The area has since been declared clear of threats. Senior Minister Punjab Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that bird nests pose a serious danger to aircraft, urging citizens to avoid scattering bird feed on rooftops or in open spaces. She stressed that public cooperation is vital for ensuring aerial safety and warned that violators will face strict action. A coordinated crackdown by district administration is underway to prevent bird-related air hazards near airports. Five successful operations were carried out in areas like Badian Road and Gulshan Park, where pigeon cages were dismantled and other potential bird habitats were eliminated. Actions were also taken against poultry and meat shops operating in open areas of Nishat Colony and others. Four shops were fined and shutdown on the spot. Citizens have been urged not to discard sacrificial or leftover meat in open areas, as it attracts birds that may contribute to air accidents. The EPA teams inspected wedding halls and restaurants for improper food waste disposal, issuing notices to three venues for non-compliance. On Khurshid Alam Road, unnecessary tree branches were trimmed to remove nests and control the bird population. Garbage was cleared from Javed Cheema Chowk, Zarrar Shaheed Road, and Jore Pul, as authorities noted that open waste is a major cause of bird congregation. Surveillance has been intensified from Dharampura to Jallo and along Canal Road, where sacrificial meat sellers have been identified. Local vendors have been directed to comply with regulations. At the PAF Golf Club, a wildlife team removed 20 crow and 15 kite nests to help secure the airspace. Minister Maryam Aurangzeb added that the Lahore wildlife team is now heading toward Safe Garrison and Harbanspura Ring Road for the next phase of operations, fully prepared to curb bird breeding activities as part of the strategic plan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Bird Nest removal underway around Lahore Airport
The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accelerated its aerial surveillance and digital‑mapping operations in and around Lahore, and other sensitive zones, to prevent bird‑related aviation hazards. EPA officials say the agency's Aerial Surveillance Force is conducting reconnaissance flights over key locations, including Lahore Airport, to identify bird activity and nesting sites. They are using advanced technology to geo‑tag nests and bird cages on digital maps, enabling swift removal. The e‑mapping process is expected to conclude within two days. According to the EPA's latest 'Dening Report,' a targeted operation near Mehfooz Shaheed Garrison, close to Harbanspura Ring Road, removed 20 kite nests and 30 crow nests. Pigeon cages were also dismantled at five different locations, including Baden Road and Gulshan Park. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb warned that bird nests pose a serious threat to aircraft and urged the public to refrain from feeding birds in open spaces or on rooftops. The district administration has launched inspections of marriage halls, restaurants, and meat shops. In Nishat Colony and Arbab Market, four shopkeepers were fined, and their premises sealed for maintaining open‑air poultry and meat stalls. Municipal teams have cleared unnecessary branches and garbage from Khurshid Alam Road, Javed Cheema Chowk, and Zarar Shaheed Road, eliminating potential nesting grounds. In a separate action, the provincial wildlife department removed 15 kite nests and 20 crow nests from PAF Golf Club. The operation's next phase is now moving from Mehfooz Garrison toward the Harbanspura Ring Road. EPA has appealed to the public to avoid throwing leftover meat or sacrificial offerings in open areas, warning that such practices attract birds and increase air‑accident risk. Strict action will be taken against violators.
