Gwadar International Airport to open by end of December: PAA

Pakistan Airports Authority's (PAA) Acting Director-General, Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, confirmed on Thursday that the new Gwadar International Airport (NGIAP) will be operational by the end of December, Express News reported.

Saeed, who also serves as the Additional Director-General of the PAA, visited the construction site of the airport accompanied by Deputy DG Airports Engineer Sadiqur Rehman and Project Director Engineer Faizullah Khattak.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the airport's operational readiness and engage with key stakeholders, including the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), the Chamber of Commerce, the Pakistan Navy, and the Pakistan Army.

The project director provided a detailed briefing on the airport’s state-of-the-art features and potential business and investment opportunities as acting director expressed satisfaction over the progress, praising the efforts of the project team in bringing the project closer to completion.

He reiterated that the PAA is committed to making the airport operational by the end of this month. "We are taking all necessary measures to activate the airport within this timeline," said Saeed.

The new airport, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is expected to play a pivotal role in boosting economic growth and regional connectivity. With a cost of $246 million, the airport will feature a world-class terminal building, a large runway, and other modern facilities.