Pakistan's largest airport, backed by China, becomes operational
Pakistan's largest international airport, funded and built by its all-weather ally China, was officially inaugurated on Monday in Balochistan province after months of delay. The Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), described the project as a "grant."
The opening of Gwadar International Airport was postponed multiple times due to security concerns arising from separatist militant attacks in southwestern Balochistan. Initially scheduled for August 14, 2024, the inauguration was delayed to January 10, 2025, and then was finally inaugurated on Monday.
The first commercial flight, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK 503, carrying passengers and high-ranking officials, marked the airport's operational launch. Departing Karachi with a 45-minute delay, it landed in Gwadar after a 1 hour and 10-minute flight.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the airport's operationalization as a significant milestone in transforming Gwadar into a vital hub linking Central and Eastern Asia, the Middle East, and Gulf countries. The modern facility is expected to enhance regional connectivity and bolster Pakistan's global trade and infrastructure development.
The airport and Gwadar’s deep seaport are integral to the $230 million (approximately Pakistani rupees 64 billion) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Both countries view Gwadar as a crucial node in the 21st-century Silk Route, promoting trade and regional connectivity.
“This achievement brings us closer to fulfilling the shared commitment of Chinese President Xi Jinping and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the development of Pakistan and the region through CPEC,” said Shehbaz.
At the inauguration, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted CPEC’s transformative potential for Balochistan’s social, technical, and energy sectors, further integrating the region into the Pakistan-China economic framework.
Located 26 kilometers from Gwadar city at Gurandani, the airport spans 430 acres, making it the largest in Pakistan by land. Its runway accommodates large aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.
Construction of the airport, completed in December 2024 at an estimated cost of Rs 50 billion, was symbolically inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024. It is now fully operational for domestic and international flights.