New Gwadar airport opening postponed for 6 months

Karachi: The New Gwadar International Airport, a project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has faced yet another setback, with a delay of six more months.

According to Khaqan Murtaza, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, the airport's opening, initially slated for this month, has been postponed due to technical issues.

The delay primarily stems from a holdup in the arrival of essential airport equipment and technical machinery from China to Pakistan.

These critical components, making their way to Gwadar via sea transport, are expected to reach their destination later this month.

Chinese authorities have now set March 2024 as the anticipated opening date for the Gwadar Airport.

However, further delays in the airport's operational preparations are possible.

Located 26 kilometers north of the existing Gwadar Airport on the eastern side, this new facility occupies 300 acres of land provided by the Government of Pakistan.

Much like the New Islamabad Airport, the Gwadar Airport represents Pakistan's second Greenfield Airport and is a vital component of the nation's infrastructure development.