Gwadar Airport welcomes maiden flight

The New Gwadar International Airport formally began its operations on Monday, welcoming its first commercial flight that symbolised a new chapter in the country's aviation history and a step forward towards making Pakistan a hub of regional connectivity.

The Karachi-Gwadar PK-503 flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) touched down at the new state-of-the-art airport at 11:15am. The flight received water salute upon arrival. The flight, carrying 46 passengers, had left Karachi at 9:50 am.

Covering 4,300 acres, the airport is Pakistan's largest and represents a significant step towards regional development. The start of flights was hailed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Balochistan Governor Jaffar Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and others.

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz termed the operationalisation of Gwadar International Airport an example of Pakistan-China friendship and a great step forward towards strengthening connectivity within Pakistan as well as the entire region.

"With the inauguration of Gwadar airport, another milestone has been achieved – to link Gwadar with Central Asia and East Asia besides providing linkage between the Middle East and Gulf states," the prime minister stated.

"Today, we have come closer to fulfilling the joint commitment of the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the development of Pakistan and the region through the CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor]," he added.

Addressing at the inauguration ceremony at the airport, Chief Minister Bugti termed the inauguration of Gwadar International Airport a milestone in the development of Balochistan, which would lead the province to the new paths of prosperity and economic stability. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)