PAF Base Masroor (Mauripur)

PAF Base Masroor is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, Sindh. The facility was built in 1940 and established by the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942 as a transit airfield during World War II. Following the Partition of British India in 1947, the site was redesignated RPAF Station Mauripur. British military units utilized the airfield until 1956. The installation was renamed PAF Station Masroor on May 24, 1968, in honor of former base commander Air Commodore Masroor Hosain, and received its current base designation on July 1, 1970.

The base is operated by the Pakistan Air Force under the jurisdiction of Southern Air Command. It is responsible for the defense of the coastal and southern regions of Pakistan. The base hosts the 32 Tactical Attack (TA) Wing, which comprises six squadrons. Operational units include No. 2 MR Squadron operating JF-17 Block 2 aircraft and No. 8 TA Squadron operating JF-17 Block 3 aircraft. The base also houses No. 7 TA Squadron and No. 22 Operational Conversion Unit, which utilize Mirage III variants. Airborne early warning capabilities are provided by No. 4 AWACS Squadron operating the Karakoram Eagle, and No. 84 CSS operates AW-139 Seahawk helicopters for search and rescue.

PAF Base Masroor is the largest airbase by land area in Pakistan and Asia. Infrastructure includes the College of Aviation Safety Management and the Tactical Air Support School. Historically, the site facilitated domestic civil aviation and was used by Muhammad Ali Jinnah prior to the establishment of Karachi Airport. During 1979, the base also hosted No. 7 Squadron operating B-57B Canberra aircraft.