Pakistan: New Gwadar International Airport Expected to Begin Operations by Late December

Islamabad, Dec 7 (NationPress) The New Gwadar International Airport is poised to start operations by the end of December, as stated by the Acting Director General of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed. During his visit to the airport, the officer received an update on the airport's advanced features and the significant business and investment prospects it is anticipated to create in the future, as reported by the Xinhua news agency quoting PAA.

The airport, a contribution from China, is a 4F-grade modern facility capable of accommodating the largest civil aircraft. With a runway measuring 3,658 metres in length and 75 metres in width, combined with specialized foundation treatment, it sets a new standard in engineering excellence.

Designed to enhance connectivity, the airport boasts a spacious apron complete with five slots for wide-body aircraft and plans for extensive cargo operations, featuring a dedicated cargo shed and future expansions.

By addressing previous connectivity limitations, the airport will enable contemporary airlines to service Gwadar, thereby boosting regional economic development and establishing Gwadar as a transshipment hub linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Initiated in 2013, CPEC is a flagship endeavor of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, forming a corridor that connects Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The project emphasizes energy, transport, and industrial collaboration in its initial phase, with future expansions into agriculture and livelihood sectors, among others.