Chota Malir Airstrips

Military Conversion and Expansion. The site was not closed but was fully converted from a smaller WWII-era airfield into a major, modern military installation. The original, simpler airstrips were replaced and upgraded to meet the operational requirements of the Pakistan Air Force.

The site is currently the location of PAF Base Malir, an active and strategically important Pakistan Air Force installation. It is a major operational and administrative hub, housing the prestigious PAF Air War College, which is the premier institution for training senior PAF officers. The base features a modern, long runway and extensive military infrastructure, and it is not accessible to the public or for civilian use.

The site's history originates from a Royal Air Force station, RAF Malir, established during World War II. It served as a crucial maintenance, transit, and supply depot for Allied forces in the region. After Pakistan's independence in 1947, the station was handed over to the Royal Pakistan Air Force (later Pakistan Air Force). It became a foundational base for the new air force, initially handling logistics, transport aircraft, and maintenance operations. The unofficial name 'Chota Malir Airstrips' likely refers to these early, less developed runways.

Zero. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as a civilian airport. It is a critical, active military airbase vital to Pakistan's national security. The ICAO code 'PK-0018' is an unofficial identifier found in third-party aviation databases and flight simulators and does not denote any official status or potential for future civilian use.