Gwadar Airport to launch flights to Muscat from January 10
The newly constructed Gwadar International Airport is set to launch flights
to Muscat starting January 10, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office announced
on Monday, following delays caused by security concerns.
The $200 million, China-funded airport, designed to accommodate both
domestic and international flights, is one of the largest in Pakistan. With the
capacity to handle Airbus A380 aircraft, it is expected to serve around 4
million passengers annually, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority
(PCAA).
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The airport's opening was delayed after a security review in August,
triggered by militant attacks in Balochistan. During a meeting on Monday, Prime
Minister Sharif instructed officials to focus on making the airport a major
transit hub and improving the road infrastructure connecting it to other
regions of Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.
"Flights from Gwadar to Muscat will commence on January 10," the
PM’s office said in a statement. Discussions are also underway with private
carriers from China, Oman, and the UAE to expand international flight routes.
The Gwadar International Airport is part of China’s $65 billion investment
in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a
central element of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. Nearby, a
deep-water port, developed in collaboration with Pakistan, Oman, and China, is
nearing completion.
The airport is equipped with cold storage, cargo facilities, and banking
services through the State Bank of Pakistan. To ensure safety, security
agencies, including the Airports Security Force and the Federal Investigation
Agency, have been deployed.
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In Balochistan, where Gwadar is located, militant groups have previously
targeted Chinese investments and personnel, viewing them as exploitation of the
region's resources. Recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Karachi that
killed two Chinese workers, have raised security concerns. Beijing has
reportedly urged Islamabad to allow Chinese security personnel at the airport,
but Pakistan has resisted this request.
Prime Minister Sharif underscored the significance of the airport as a
symbol of the strong China-Pakistan partnership, expressing gratitude to China
for building the modern facility.
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and other senior officials, with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan joining via video link.
Source: Express Tribune