PAF Base Faisal (RAF Drigh Road)

PAF Base Faisal is a Pakistan Air Force installation located on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi, Sindh. Established in 1933 during the British Raj as RAF Drigh Road, it was the first air force station in British India and the founding site of the Royal Indian Air Force. In 1975, the base was renamed in honor of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Historically, the station hosted numerous Royal Air Force units between 1928 and 1945, including No. 5, No. 28, No. 31, No. 60, No. 84, No. 159, No. 160, and No. 354 Squadrons. Aircraft operated from the facility during this period included the Westland Wapiti, Hawker Audax, Westland Lysander II, Douglas DC-2, Bristol Blenheim I, and Consolidated Liberator V.

The base is currently operated by the Pakistan Air Force under the jurisdiction of Southern Air Command. It serves as the headquarters for Southern Air Command and houses the PAF Air War College, which provides command and staff training for junior officers at the operational level. Stationed units include No. 21 Squadron "Burraqs."

Infrastructure at the base includes the 102 Air Engineering depot, a facility responsible for the overhaul of turbojet engines for the PAF fleet of Chengdu F-7 interceptors. The depot’s technical capabilities include the maintenance and overhaul of WP-13F turbojet engines used in F-7PG aircraft.