Pakistan's Gwadar Airport set to open its doors by month-end

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

The New Gwadar International Airport in Balochistan is set to open its doors to travellers by the end of this month, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Friday.

The PAA spokesperson confirmed that the preparations for the airport's operations were in their final stages and will hopefully be completed by the month-end.

Recently, PAA's Acting Director General Zeeshan Saeed, along with deputy director general of airports Sadiq Rehman visited the site to assess its readiness. Project Director Faizullah Khattak briefed the officials on the operational readiness of the facility.

During the visit, the project team also briefed the airport stakeholders on available business opportunities and the economic zones attached with the project. The acting director general expressed satisfaction with the progress of the preparations.

The state-of-the-art airport, built with modern facilities, has cost $246 million, including a grant from China. Equipped with a large runway and advanced terminal building, it is capable of accommodating all types of large aircraft.

The airport is expected to significantly boost trade and economic development in the region, positioning Gwadar as a key hub for commerce and connectivity, officials said.

The project has encountered delays for a variety of reasons. However, China has been pushing Pakistani authorities to complete the facility without any delay so that the airport becomes operational sooner than later.