A lot of people, regardless of how frequently they travel, find going through airport security in Pakistan (or any other country for that matter) rather unnerving. One of the best ways to make sure you don’t encounter any problems while travelling is to be aware of items not allowed on planes.
No matter how many times you have flown in an aeroplane, there are certain travel rules and regulations you need to keep in mind while planning a journey by air. This includes making sure you don’t pack any prohibited items in your hand-carry or luggage that might force you to spend extra time with Pakistan airport security officers.
If you want to ensure a smooth trip with no unnecessary stops, here is a list of items prohibited on planes. You should keep these in mind while packing your travel bags.
Items Not Allowed on Planes in Pakistan
Take a look at the items Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has prohibited passengers from bringing on all flights.
- Explosives
- Firearms and their replicas
- Flammable items and disabling chemicals
- Objects with sharp or pointy edges
- Devices that can stun or immobilize a person
- Construction tools
- Sporting equipment
- Liquids, aerosols and gels
Let’s further discuss the prohibited items for passengers in accordance with Pakistan airport customs rules.
Explosives
This is a no-brainer. You cannot, under any circumstances, bring any combustible or incendiary substances with you on an aeroplane. Not only can these explosives inflict severe injuries on other passengers but also cause serious harm to the aircraft itself.
The list of explosive items and devices forbidden to bring on a flight include bombs, fireworks, flares, any sort of ammunition, gun powder, propellant powder, detonators, grenades, mines, blasting caps and smoke grenades among others.
Firearms and their replicas
Pakistan airport security rules for passengers dictate you cannot carry anything that may threaten the safety of others or cause a serious injury. Therefore, bringing guns or any other sort of firearms (revolvers, rifles, pistols, ball-bearing guns and shotguns etc.) to the departure lounge is a big no.
Moreover, you also can’t get replicas of guns and imitation weapons through airport security in Pakistan, as they can be mistaken for real firearms. Toy guns, flare guns, starter pistols, compressed air guns are also prohibited along with other such weapons. Crossbows, harpoon guns, spear guns, slingshots and catapults along with bow and arrows are also among things not allowed on airplanes.
However, if you need to travel with your licensed firearm, you have to unload it and lock it in a hard-sided container. Make sure to declare it before the security check so it could be kept with your baggage.
Flammable Items and Disabling Chemicals
Certain flammable items, such as fuel, gasoline, cooking oil, motor oil, gas torches, lighter fluids, spray paint, paint thinners, compressed gas cylinders, fire extinguishers and flammable paints are among items not allowed on planes. You also cannot carry most of these in checked baggage either. The same goes for chemicals that can potentially burn or harm someone.
The list of chemicals forbidden to be carried by Pakistan airport security forces include chlorine, liquid bleach, tear gas and self-defence sprays containing more than 2% of the chemical. You also cannot fly with spillable batteries, except those used for wheelchairs. Even non-spillable batteries are only accepted as checked baggage if they are disconnected.
Objects with sharp or pointed edges
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions objects with sharp edges? Knives, of course.
According to the list of prohibited items released by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, things such knives, box cutters, razor blades, swords, sabre, axes, hatchets, cleavers, ice picks and scissors with blades longer than 6 cm are among items not allowed on planes.
Devices that can stun or immobilize a person
For reasons similar to explosives and firearms, passengers can also not take stun guns and Tasers through airport security in Pakistan.
This list of prohibited items also includes but is not limited to electric stunners used on animals and insect repellant sprays. You are not allowed to bring pepper spray, mace, tear gas and acid spray onboard either. If you want to carry any of these items in your check-in baggage, make sure to contact your airline for more information.
Construction Tools
Pakistan airport security does not allow construction tools that might cause harm to the aeroplane past its checking points. Things such as hammers, crowbars, manual hand drills or power drills, saws, blowtorches, nail guns and bolt guns are also forbidden to be carried in carry-on luggage items.
Furthermore, work tools that are longer than 6 cm are also not allowed as they can be used as weapons. For instance, large screwdrivers and chisels can potentially injure a person are not allowed to be carried on an aeroplane. You may, however, ask your airline if you can carry such tools in your checked baggage during reservations.
Sporting equipment
Any sporting goods that can be used as a weapon are not allowed to get past airport security in Pakistan.
This means you are not allowed to carry cricket bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey and lacrosse sticks, brass knuckles and martial arts weapons along with any sort of clubs on to the aeroplane with you.
However, if it’s important for you to travel with your golf kit or cricket bat, make sure to contact the airline beforehand as you’ll be most likely required to send it with checked baggage.
Liquids, Aerosols and Gels
Airport security in Pakistan is stringent about the quantity of liquids (bottled water and shampoos etc.), aerosol (hairspray and shaving cream etc.) and gels (non-solid food items and toiletries) packed in carry-on luggage.
If you must carry these items, make sure they are in 100 ml/100-gram containers. Any liquids, gels and aerosols in containers than the aforementioned quantity must be placed in the checked baggage. Parents travelling with infants and toddlers can carry baby food and formula milk in their bags.
However, all of these containers must be packed in clear plastic bags to avoid any spills. As for water and other beverages, either drink or discard them before reaching the airport security checkpoint.
Keep in mind you may be asked to take these containers out of your carry-on luggage for inspection before boarding the flight.
For further information about things you can’t take through airport security in Pakistan, you can contact the headquarters of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority or your respective airline.
Meanwhile, if you have any queries about travelling in Pakistan, you can get in touch with us at blog@zameen.com.
Moreover, for tips on how to stay organized while travelling and to learningenious travel-packing hacks, check out Zameen Blog, the top lifestyle blog in Pakistan.
