{{Short description|Military airbase in Sindh, Pakistan}} {{Infobox military installation | name = PAF Base Bholari | ensign = Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg | ensign_size = 100px | native_name = پی اے ایف بیس بھولاری | partof = | location = Bholari, Jamshoro District, Sindh | country = Pakistan | image = 250px | alt = | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | coordinates = {{Coord|25|14|35|N|68|02|11|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}} | gridref = | type = Air Force base | pushpin_map = Sindh#Pakistan | pushpin_map_caption = Shown witih Sindh | pushpin_label = PAF Base Bholari | pushpin_label_position = | code = PK-0070 | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | floor_area = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | ownership = Ministry of Defense | operator = Pakistan Air Force | controlledby = Southern Air Command | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | condition = Operational | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | website = [http://www.paf.gov.pk/ Pakistan Air Force] | built = {{Start date|1942}} & 2015 | built_for = British India<br/>Pakistan Air Force | builder = British Raj (foundation)<br/>{{flag icon|Sindh}} Bholari Development Board (later upgradation) | architect = Project Bholari | used = 1942-1945<br/>2015-Present | demolished = | battles = Operation Swift Retort<br/>2025 India-Pakistan conflict | events = | current_commander = <!-- current commander --> | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = 41 Tactical Wing | occupants = 18 OCU "Sharp Shooters"<br/>19 OCU "Sherdils"<br/>53 AEW&C Squadron "Hawks" | designations = | IATA = none | ICAO = none | elevation = <!-- {{Convert|60|m|0}} --> | r1-number = 04R/22L | r1-length = {{Convert|3,365|m|0}} | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 04L/22R | r2-length = {{Convert|3,365|m|0}} | r2-surface = Asphalt | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | nrhp = | footnotes = '''Reference(s)''':<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAF Bholari data |url=https://airportmap.de/airport/PK-0070/info |website=Airport Map}}</ref><ref name="Book">{{Cite book |title=History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force |last1=Khan |first1=Farhat |year=2024 |edition=1st |last2=Hashmi|first2=Qadeer|publisher=Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) |isbn=978-969-7518-01-2}}</ref> }}
'''PAF Base Bholari''' is a Main operating base (MOB) of the Pakistan Air Force located at Bholari north-east of Karachi in Sindh and is home to the 41st Wing. Inaugurated in late 2017, the installation is PAF's newest airbase which is controlled by the Southern Air Command and supports operations of the armed forces in the southern regions with an additional task to safeguard the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Air Force inaugurates new air base – PAF Bholari |url=https://quwa.org/daily-news/pakistan-air-force-inaugurates-new-air-base-paf-bholari/ |last=Khan |first=Bilal |date=2017-12-27 |website=Quwa.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PAF’s Bholari base inaugurated |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1378825 |date=2017-12-26 |website=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PAF inaugurates new operational air base at Bholari near Karachi |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/173828-blaze-erupts-at-mill-in-karachis-nazimabad-vicinity |date=2017-12-25 |website=Geo News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New operational air base inaugurated at Bholari near Karachi |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/260692-new-operational-air-base-inaugurated-at-bholari-near-karachi |date=2017-12-26 |website=The News International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PAF inaugurates airbase at Bholari near Karachi |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1592676/paf-inaugurates-airbase-bholari-near-karachi |date=2017-12-26 |website=ETribune}}</ref>
== History == During the Second World War, the British Raj constructed an airfield near the small town of Bholari for wartime emergencies. This airfield was inherited by the Royal Pakistan Air Force after independence of Pakistan in 1947. Even though for the next couple of decades, it remained unused and existed as a satellite base, the PAF valued its strategic location as it believed it would enhance its operational capabilities in supporting the wartime operations of the Pakistan Armed Forces in southern regions both on land and sea. Accordingly, Air Headquarters (AHQ) conceived the idea of transforming Bholari into a Main Operating Base for fighter squadrons in November 1979. However, the lack of funding prevented the plan from materializing.<ref name=Book/>
By July 2014, the raging war on terror and changing Geo-political environment had raised concerns amongst the Pakistani military leadership which resulted in the direct approval of an MOB at Bholari for the PAF. Previously, AHQ had formed a council which oversaw and managed the construction of PAF Base Shahbaz codenamed "Project Shahbaz". Owing to its previous experience, Project Shahbaz was assigned with overseeing the development of the new Bholari airbase officially called "PAF Base Bholari". Project Shahbaz initiated efforts for the establishment of "Bholari Development Board" (BDB) which would oversee the legal management of the project. The proposal of BDB was approved by the Ministry of Defence in October 2015. The earth breaking ceremony took place in December 2015 and construction work finally started. The airbase was inaugurated on 25 December 2017.<ref name=Book/>
In 2020, the base hosted Exercise Shaheen IX, a joint Pakistani-Chinese aerial exercise.<ref>{{cite news |title=China-Pakistan Air Forces to hold joint exercises - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/china-pakistan-air-forces-to-hold-joint-exercises/articleshow/79611283.cms |website=The Times of India |date=7 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2025 Indian missile strike === In May 2025, during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, satellite imagery published by ''The New York Times'' and ''The Washington Post'' showed damage to a hangar at the Bholari airbase. Independent analysis of the imagery indicated a large hole in the hangar roof and debris scattered around the structure, consistent with a missile impact.<ref>{{cite news |title=India and Pakistan Talked Big, But Satellite Imagery Shows Limited Damage |last=Mashal |first=Mujib |author2=Agnes Chang |author3=Pablo Robles |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/14/world/asia/india-pakistan-attack-damage-satellite-images.html |date=14 May 2025 |access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Piper |first1=Imogen |last2=Hill |first2=Evan |last3=Javaid |first3=Maham |last4=Noack |first4=Rick |date=14 May 2025 |title=Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/14/india-pakistan-strikes-conflict-damage/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> According to ISPR, five PAF personnel, including a squadron leader and a chief technician, were killed at the base during the strike.<ref>{{cite news |title=11 soldiers martyred, 78 wounded while defending Pakistan in Indian attack: ISPR |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1910733 |work=Dawn |date=13 May 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025}}</ref>
The damaged hangar at Bholari is typically used to house airborne electronic warfare and jamming aircraft.<ref name="Post2025">{{cite news |last1=Piper |first1=Imogen |last2=Hill |first2=Evan |last3=Javaid |first3=Maham |last4=Noack |first4=Rick |date=14 May 2025 |title=Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/14/india-pakistan-strikes-conflict-damage/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> The strike damaged a Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C airborne early warning aircraft of the No. 53 Squadron PAF.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Taghvaee |first=Babak |date=July 2025 |title=A Close Call |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VwUrJ22fStQ2aACxOlTazkN8FBz1-4dj/view|magazine=Air Forces Monthly |page=33}}</ref><ref name="KeyAeroRafaleKills">{{cite magazine|last1=Warnes|first1=Alan|title=Exclusive: Full article – Understanding the Rafale kills|magazine=Air Forces Monthly|publisher=Key Publishing|url=https://www.key.aero/article/full-article-understanding-rafale-kills|date=October 2025|access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref> India further claimed that its strikes on Bholari had destroyed several Pakistani aircraft, including F-16s and JF-17s and Indian officials released satellite imagery as supporting evidence for these claims.<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Sindoor wrecked Pakistani airbases, destroyed F-16s and AWACS; US stepped in for urgent repairs |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/operation-sindoor-wrecked-pakistani-airbases-destroyed-f-16s-and-awacs-us-stepped-in-for-urgent-repairs-article-13599652.html |website=Moneycontrol |access-date=7 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pweHF5ZFkMQ |title=India Releases Satellite Proof of Operation Sindoor Strikes {{!}} DGMO Briefing {{!}} India–Pakistan Ceasefire |website=Youtube |date=11 May 2025 |access-date=7 October 2025}}</ref> Belated repair works were underway at the base in early 2026 with the stricken hanger under reconstruction as revealed by OSINT sources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/india/repair-efforts-underway-at-bholari-base-hit-during-operation-sindoor/ar-AA1VRuZv |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Som |first=Vishnu |date=8 February 2026 |title=Pakistan Peels Off Bholari Hangar Roof Where Indian Air Force Destroyed Early Warning Aircraft. |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/operation-sindoor-pakistan-peels-off-bholari-hangar-roof-where-indian-air-force-destroyed-early-warning-aircraft-10968316/amp/1 |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2016 |website=NDTV}}</ref>
== See also == * List of Pakistan Air Force bases
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{Air Bases of Pakistan Air Force}} {{Active Pakistan Air Force bases}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bholari}} Bholari Category:Military airbases established in 1942