GAWADAR -UNS: The federal government has officially designated Gwadar Airport as an international airport, allowing it to handle international passenger and cargo flights.
The airport, a major milestone under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is expected to boost regional connectivity and trade.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued two notifications to formalize the airport’s operations. The first notification, under Section 9, declared Gwadar Airport as an international airport, while the second, under Section 10, authorized international passenger flights to land and take off.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang virtually inaugurated Gwadar International Airport in October during Li’s four-day bilateral visit to Pakistan.
Terming the project a “gift” from China, PM Shehbaz highlighted the airport’s role as a central component of the billion dollar infrastructure and development project CPEC. The ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad.
The inauguration coincided with the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) on October 15-16, attended by Premier Li amid tight security measures.
The Civil Aviation Authority announced that Gwadar International Airport, one of Pakistan’s largest, will handle both domestic and international flights.
Located 14 km north of Gwadar city, the airport is positioned on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan province, a region of strategic importance. Gwadar’s geographic location has spurred significant development and commercial activity in recent years, elevating its status as a vital trade hub.
Gwadar International Airport operates on a flight schedule basis, supporting both domestic and international routes. Its completion marks a significant step in enhancing Pakistan’s aviation infrastructure and economic integration within the region.
The history of the airport dates back to 1958 when the Government of Pakistan bought Gwadar from Muscat’s Sultan.The air operations started in 1966. The airport gained international status when two weekly flights from Karachi to Muscat via Gwadar were initiated with Fokker F-27 aircraft.
The terminal building was inaugurated in 1984 and the airport was established as a domestic airport and considered to be the biggest airport of Balochistan which facilitates the passengers especially the people of Gwadar. The new departure/VIP lounges were opened in 2008.
The current airport caters mainly to the population of Gwadar. Pakistan International Airlines, the main airline flying out of the airport, connects Gwadar to Karachi, Turbat, Quetta, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Tehran, Mashhad, Bahrain and Muscat. Other airlines had recently launched their flights to Gwadar and currently had been doing pretty well due to successful performance. These included Oman Air, which flew to Muscat using ATR 42 aircraft, and airblue, which started twice daily flights to Karachi through its joint venture partner JS Air.
The new Gwadar International Airport will have space for big planes like Airbus A380 & Boeing 747-8, plus smaller ones like ATR-72 & Boeing 737-900ER.
Lounges: One domestic and one International lounge.One CIP/VIP lounge for premium and executive passengers.
