Islamabad: The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) officially opened its doors to commercial air traffic on January 20, marking an important milestone in Pakistan’s aviation history.
The inaugural commercial flight PIA flight PK 503 took off from Karachi at 9:50 am and landed at the state-of-the-art Gwadar Airport at 11:15 am carrying 46 passengers. The aircraft was greeted with a ceremonial water salute upon arrival, marking the start of operations at the new facility.
Speaking about the event, the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) termed the successful landing as “a historic moment”, highlighting NGIA’s important role in connecting Pakistan to global markets and promoting trade, tourism and economic development. Highlighted
Spread over an area of ​​4,300 acres, NGIA boasts of modern infrastructure including modern runways, aprons, passenger terminals, and technical facilities. Built with an investment of $246 million under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the airport is Pakistan’s largest airport and is expected to handle domestic and international flights.
The inauguration of the NGIA comes after months of delay. Originally scheduled to begin on August 14, 2024, its opening was postponed due to a series of security reviews due to attacks by separatist groups in the volatile Balochistan province. Another delay in January extended the timeline to the airport’s eventual operational debut this month.
Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who was present at the opening ceremony, emphasized the role of the airport in promoting economic development. “This facility will strengthen Pakistan’s global connectivity, open doors for tourism, and create numerous opportunities for trade and development,” he said, thanking the Chinese government for its support to the project.
As part of ongoing developments under CPEC, NGIA is expected to transform Gwadar into a major economic hub, serving as a gateway for trade and tourism to South Asia, the Middle East and beyond. will do The airport is also poised to play an important role in increasing Pakistan’s access to markets in Europe, Africa and Central Asia.
The operationalization of the New Gwadar International Airport is a major milestone in fulfilling Pakistan’s ambitions of economic integration and regional connectivity.
