GWADAR: The New Gwadar International Airport, a landmark project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is being inaugurated today (Monday).
However, the departure of the first flight from Karachi to Gwadar faced delays.
According to the flight schedule, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503 was originally scheduled to depart Karachi at 9:14 AM and land at the New Gwadar International Airport. Aviation sources reported that the departure was delayed by 45 minutes, with the flight eventually taking off at 10:00 AM.
Upon its arrival, the inaugural flight will be welcomed with a traditional water salute.
Dignitaries, including Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, and prominent figures from Pakistan and China, are expected to be present at the airport to greet the passengers.
The New Gwadar International Airport has officially replaced the old airport on flight tracking platforms, with its location now updated on flight radar systems.
Spanning 430 acres, the new facility is Pakistan’s largest airport by area. Located 26 kilometers from Gwadar city in the Gurandani area, the airport features a 3,658-meter-long and 75-meter-wide runway capable of accommodating large aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.
Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs50 billion, the airport was symbolically inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on October 14, 2024. Today marks the commencement of regular flight operations, further positioning Gwadar as a strategic hub for regional connectivity.
