New Gwadar airport starts operations with landing of first PIA flight [Post Updated #11]

[SecondSlip]

Prime Minister Imran Khan during a visit to Balochistan on Friday will lay the foundation stone of the new Gwadar International Airport and launch some other development projects.

The premier was received at the Army Aviation Base by Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Inter-Services Public Relations said in a tweet.

He then reached Quetta Cantonment along with the Balochistan Governor Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani, and other federal ministers, the army's media wing said.

The premier will do the groundbreaking of the Balochistan Health Complex and the Quetta-Zhob N-50 Road as part of the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the tweet said.

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Official sources earlier said that during his daylong stay in Gwadar, the premier is likely to make some important announcements about Balochistan’s development.

They said he will be given a briefing regarding the CPEC and ongoing development projects, and is also expected to meet provincial cabinet members.

In the provincial capital, Prime Minister Khan will lay the foundation stone of a new campus of the National University of Science and Technology. In Gwadar, he will lay the foundation stone for the new airport and take part in the closing ceremony of an expo taking place in the city.

Gwadar International Airport will have the latest equipment and facilities and is expected to be one of the country’s largest airports.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar announced that Balochistan would get a big share in the next public sector development programme (PSDP) as the federal government will give top priority to Gwadar, which is predicted to emerge as an economic hub of Pakistan.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council had on Thursday approved two development projects for Balochistan with a total cost of about Rs96 billion.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1472622/pm-khan-to-inaugurate-new-gwadar-international-airport-today

 

[PakLFC]

We need to make correct decisions in the province. If we do that Gwadar will prosper like Dubai where as if we do not the place will continue to be a hub of terrorism instigated by external forces. The most important people are the poor Baloch people whose hearts need to be won. They want results not fake promises.

 

[Loralai]

Airport for Gawadar whilst there are not even proper roads and connections in most of Balochistan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Telecom work completes, navigational work in offing at new Gwadar Int’l Airport\

In a significant development, high-tech telecommunication work has completed in connection with ongoing gradual development of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA).

NGIA’s state of art telecommunication paraphernalia involves telecom networks and systems that use various technologies and protocols to facilitate the transmission of voice, data, and audio-video signals between devices, including smartphones, computers, and other communication devices.

Talking to Gwadar Pro GPA official said that NGIA’s telecommunication work deals with telecom networks which are made up of various components, including transmission systems, switching systems, and network management systems.

These components work together to ensure that communication signals are transmitted and delivered efficiently and securely, he added.

Meanwhile Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said that that next step is to install and apply “modern navigational system” at New Gwadar International Airport.

“Navigational system constitutes mechanism of interplay of radio- electric and visual aids. Visual aids will encompass signaling devices, guidance signs besides signs painted over the pavement (runway, taxiways, aprons) and lights (runway, taxiway),” he added.

“Guidance signs at NGIA will provide moving directions and information to aircraft to be operating in the airport, but also to airport vehicles.

Navigational system also deals with Location signs (yellow colored on black background) that identifies the runway or taxiway in which the aircraft is about to enter,” he elucidated.

When asked, he said that fiber optic cables have already been laid from Gwadar port and Passni to NGIA. New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), an iconic project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), cost Rs. 60.208 billion.

With the joint effort of professional teams of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan, fencing around the New Gwadar International Airport has already been completed.

New Gwadar International Airport spreading over across an area of 4,300 acres will welcome entire load of national and international passengers.

Last year in July, Prime Minister inaugurated airbase infrastructure of China-funded New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA). Collaborated by China Airport Construction Group Co Ltd and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan, NGIA consists of 32 components like state of art runway, aprons, a terminal, along with civil, technical, electrical and communication infrastructure and rest of modern allied facilities.

In second phase, cargo complex will be built and it will come up with new capacity to handle multiple cargo stuff.

NGIA will have the capacity to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as ATR 72 and Boeing B-737, as well as wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747 for domestic and international routes.

SOURCE: Pakistan Today

 

[PakLFC]

IK is inaugurating nothing! Many times he has been lured away like cattle with a bin on his head . Being a pacifist he should accept his fate with a smile on his face. Just wait and see his lies and u-turns if he is ever released. As for Gwadar the government has never really been serious in developing it.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Keep giving new dates.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1872331518510829906

 

[Cricket Warrior]

New Gwadar International Airport to provide free landing, parking

Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said that there will be no landing and parking charges for aeroplanes at the beginning of operations of the New Gwadar International Airport next month, ARY News reported on Monday.

The construction of the New Gwadar International Airport is estimated to have cost around Rs55 billion. The highest standards of performance and safety have been made sure while necessary manpower has been deployed at the airport.

The New Gwadar Airport has been designed as a hub of international trade and coordination centre that will connect Gwadar city to the Middle East, Central Asia, China and other regions of the world. It will also provide additional access to major international markets.

The airport’s runway is built to international standards, and it can accommodate large aircraft, including the Airbus 380.

New Gwadar International Airport to provide free landing, parking

GWADAR: Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said that there will be no landing and parking charges for aeroplanes at the beginning of operations of the New

arynews.tv

 

[Cricket Warrior]

New Gwadar airport to begin operations from January 20

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that the New Gwadar International Airport will officially start operations from January 20.

The airport, a key development for the region, is expected to become a hub for both domestic and international flights, Express News reported.

The CAA issued a notification, confirming that the airport will be operational from January 20, with initial flights being operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This marks the first official written confirmation regarding the airport’s operational status.

According to the CAA, both local and foreign airlines have expressed interest in launching flights to and from the New Gwadar International Airport, which is expected to boost the region’s connectivity and economic growth.

Located in the southwestern province of Balochistan, the airport is part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to enhance infrastructure and promote regional development, particularly in Gwadar, a city strategically located along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The start of operations will play a pivotal role in facilitating travel and trade, as well as fostering increased tourism and business opportunities in the area.

The new airport has been built to accommodate larger aircraft and international flights, with modern amenities and advanced security features, aiming to serve as a gateway for international travellers to the region.

With the opening of the airport, Gwadar is expected to see further improvements in transport and logistics, which are critical to Pakistan’s ambitions to position the city as a global trade and maritime hub.

Moreover, after a four-and-a-half-year hiatus, PIA resumed its operations to Europe with a flight departing for Paris.

The first flight, PK-749, took off from Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) on Friday at 12:10 pm, utilising a Boeing 777 (AP-BGK) aircraft. The flight carried 330 passengers and 14 crew members.

New Gwadar airport to begin operations from January 20 | The Express Tribune

Airlines have shown interest in starting flights at Gwadar’s new international airport next week.

tribune.com.pk

 

[Bhaijaan]

Congratulations to Pakistani people. Gawadar is a game changer.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan’s new Gwadar airport set to begin operations today​

Pakistan’s new Gwadar International Airport is set to begin operations today, Monday, with a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight due to arrive from the southern port city of Karachi, a Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) spokesperson said, following a months-long delay in the opening of the airport.

A security review, prompted by deadly attacks by separatist militants in Balochistan in August last year, had delayed the airport’s opening to the end of 2024. The airport was due to begin operation on Jan. 10, but it was once again postponed.

The $200-million Chinese-funded airport, which will handle both domestic and international flights, is expected to become one of Pakistan’s largest, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

A ceremony will be held to mark the airport’s opening on Monday, which would be attended by senior federal and provincial government officials, according to PAA spokesperson Saif Ullah.

“The first flight will be given a traditional water salute by Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) water bowsers after landing,” the PAA spokesperson said in a statement.

China has pledged over $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, the program in Pakistan is also developing a deep-water port close to the new Gwadar airport, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China that is close to completion.

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the Gwadar airport would be able to handle A-380 aircraft and capable of accommodating 4 million passengers annually.

The airport will feature various facilities, including cold storage, cargo sheds, hotels and shopping malls, with banking services arranged through the State Bank of Pakistan, according to the PM’s office. PIA also planned to increase

flights between Karachi and Gwadar to three times a week, while discussions were ongoing with private airlines and carriers from China, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch both domestic and international services.

Sharif had highlighted that the Gwadar International Airport symbolized the strong China-Pakistan friendship, expressing gratitude to Beijing for constructing an airport with international standards and modern facilities.

Although no Chinese projects were targeted in militant attacks in August, they have been frequently attacked in the past by separatists who view China as a foreign invader trying to gain control of impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, the site of a decades-long insurgency.

Recent attacks, including the one in October 2024 in which two Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi, forced Beijing to publicly criticize Pakistan over security lapses and there had been widespread media reports that China wanted its own security forces on the ground to protect its nationals and projects, a demand Islamabad has long resisted.

First commercial flight lands at China-backed airport in Pakistan’s Gwadar

KARACHI: Pakistan’s new Gwadar International Airport began commercial operations on Monday after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight arrived from the southern port city of Karachi, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, following a months-long delay in the opening of the...

www.arabnews.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

New Gwadar airport starts operations with landing of first PIA flight

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight landed at the Gwadar International Airport, making it the first commercial aircraft to arrive at the new airport after its inauguration on Monday.

According to the flight schedule available on the website of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the flight was expected to depart 9:20am, landing at 11:40am.

In addition to passengers, high-ranking officials from the aviation division were also onboard the inaugural flight.

Meanwhile, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif was present at the ceremony to welcome the passengers at the new airport.

Previously, the New Gwadar International Airport, developed with a $230 million grant by China, had remained largely inactive due to the failure of aviation and port authorities to market the facility internationally or engage consultants for its commercialisation.

New Gwadar airport starts operations with landing of first PIA flight

Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif welcomes passengers at new airport.

www.dawn.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

No passengers, no planes, no benefits. Pakistan’s newest airport is a bit of a mystery​

With no passengers and no planes, Pakistan’s newest and most expensive airport is a bit of a mystery. Entirely financed by China to the tune of $240 million, it’s anyone’s guess when New Gwadar International Airport will open for business.

Located in the coastal city of Gwadar and completed in October 2024, the airport is a stark contrast to the impoverished, restive southwestern Balochistan province around it.

For the past decade, China has poured money into Balochistan and Gwadar as part of a multibillion dollar project that connects its western Xinjiang province with the Arabian Sea, called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC.

Authorities have hailed it as transformational but there’s scant evidence of change in Gwadar. The city isn’t connected to the national grid — electricity comes from neighboring Iran or solar panels — and there isn’t enough clean water.

With no passengers and no planes, Pakistan’s newest and most expensive airport is a bit of a mystery. Entirely financed by China to the tune of $240 million, it’s anyone’s guess when New Gwadar International Airport will open for business.

Located in the coastal city of Gwadar and completed in October 2024, the airport is a stark contrast to the impoverished, restive southwestern Balochistan province around it.

For the past decade, China has poured money into Balochistan and Gwadar as part of a multibillion dollar project that connects its western Xinjiang province with the Arabian Sea, called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC.

Authorities have hailed it as transformational but there’s scant evidence of change in Gwadar. The city isn’t connected to the national grid — electricity comes from neighboring Iran or solar panels — and there isn’t enough clean water.

CPEC has catalyzed a decadeslong insurgency in resource-rich and strategically located Balochistan. Separatists, aggrieved by what they say is state exploitation at the expense of locals, are fighting for independence — targeting both Pakistani troops and Chinese workers in the province and elsewhere.

Members of Pakistan’s ethnic Baloch minority say they face discrimination by the government and are denied opportunities available elsewhere in the country, charges the government denies.

Pakistan, keen to protect China’s investments, has stepped up its military footprint in Gwadar to combat dissent. The city is a jumble of checkpoints, barbed wire, troops, barricades, and watchtowers. Roads close at any given time, several days a week, to permit the safe passage of Chinese workers and Pakistani VIPs.

Intelligence officers monitor journalists visiting Gwadar. The city’s fish market is deemed too sensitive for coverage.

Many local residents are frazzled.

“Nobody used to ask where we are going, what we are doing, and what is your name,” said 76-year-old Gwadar native Khuda Bakhsh Hashim. “We used to enjoy all-night picnics in the mountains or rural areas.”

“We are asked to prove our identity, who we are, where we have come from,” he added. “We are residents. Those who ask should identify themselves as to who they are.”

Hashim recalled memories, warm like the winter sunshine, of when Gwadar was part of Oman, not Pakistan, and was a stop for passenger ships heading to Mumbai. People didn’t go to bed hungry and men found work easily, he said. There was always something to eat and no shortage of drinking water.

But Gwadar’s water has dried up because of drought and unchecked exploitation. So has the work.

The government says CPEC has created some 2,000 local jobs but it’s not clear whom they mean by “local” — Baloch residents or Pakistanis from elsewhere in the country. Authorities did not elaborate.

No passengers, no planes, no benefits. Pakistan's newest airport is a bit of a mystery

Pakistan’s newest and most expensive airport is a bit of a mystery, with no passengers and no planes.

apnews.com