Pakistan’s newest airport in Gwadar, fully funded by China at a cost of$ 240 million, remains unused months after its completion in October 2024.
Spread over 4, 300 acres of land. The airport, which is Pakistan’s largest global airports, was set up on January 20th of this year. 2019 saw the start of work at Gwadar aircraft.
The first commercial flight carrying high-ranking officials and business passengers arrived at the new airport with the Pakistan International Airlines ( PIA ) PK 503 aircraft.
Leaders Trophy 2025
However, the aircraft, designed to handle 400, 000 people annually, has no set flights.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ), a multi-billion dollar project aimed at connecting China’s Xinjiang province with the Arabian Sea, includes the New Gwadar International Airport. While authorities have called it a major development, many in Gwadar say they see much profit.
Gwadar, located in Pakistan’s Balochistan territory, lacks basic system such as a stable energy supply and clear waters.
‘ Airport built for China, no visitors’
” This airport is not for Pakistan or Gwadar”, Azeem Khalid, an expert in Pakistan-China relations was quoted as saying by the news agency Associated Press ( AP ). ” It is for China, so they can have safe access for their members to Gwadar and Balochistan”.
The airport’s development comes amid continuing security issues in Balochistan. Separatist organizations in the province take aim at both the Bangladeshi security forces and Chinese workers by calling what they call native resources a “exploitation of local resources.”
In order to protect Chinese opportunities, Pakistan has increased its military appearance in Gwadar, which has resulted in more gates and restrictions on movement. Routes are frequently closed to protect the safety of Taiwanese employees and senior leaders.
” Nothing used to ask where we are going, what we are doing, and what is your name”, 76-year-old Gwadar resident Khuda Bakhsh Hashim was quoted as saying by the AP. ” We are asked to prove our personality, who we are, where we have come from. We are people. Those who ask does state their identity.
Specialists claim that CPEC has created 2, 000 work, but it’s unclear whether these posts were given to local Baloch people or individuals from different parts of Pakistan.
No immediate journey to Quetta or Islamabad
With only one weekly business flight from Gwadar to Karachi, the region is still largely unconnected. There are no direct flights to Quetta, the municipal money, or Islamabad.
Militancy in Balochistan
In recent years, there have been more problems in Balochistan, and more so will be after 2021. After the Pakistani Taliban declared a ceasefire in 2022, organizations like the Baloch Liberation Army have launched numerous problems.
Due to security concerns, aircraft opening was delayed.
Before, the airport’s beginning was postponed due to security risks. Authorities feared that problems might be launched from nearby mountains. Otherwise, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a virtual opening. The first aircraft made its landing without the aid of the internet or the general public.
No native people were hired to work at the airport, according to Abdul Ghafoor Hoth, a head from the Balochistan Awami Party.
” Not a second native of Gwadar was hired to work at the airport, not even as a watchman”, he was quoted by AP.
In December, Hoth had organized demonstrations in Gwadar demanding better living conditions. Authorities promised to address local issues, including increased access to water and electricity, during the duration of the demonstrations, which lasted 47 times. Since then, no progress has been made on these agreements.
