Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal announced on Saturday that New Gwadar International Airport would begin operations on March 23 next year.
This happened during a meeting to finalize the tariff model for airports in Balochistan to increase traffic and improve air connections for the provinces.
The Minister for Planning directed the authorities to ensure that the inauguration and conversion of operations from the old Gwadar airport to the new Gwadar airport take place in March next year. “It will be a gift to the people of Balochistan on Pakistan Day,” he added.
The minister also announced plans to expand international flight operations from Quetta Airport by August 14 to improve Balochistan’s links with the Middle East. During the meeting, it was reported that PIA operates 30 weekly flights to three cities in Balochistan.
Present were Maritime Affairs Advisor Jawad Khokhar, Additional Secretary for Planning Dawood Muhammad, Secretary for Aviation, Chief Secretary of Balochistan, CEO of Pakistan International Airlines and Deputy Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority.
It is worth mentioning that the airport is one of the main projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
