7 things about Pakistan's biggest airport built by China

Pakistan’s largest airport, constructed and funded by Beijing in the country’s restive southwest, has officially begun operations, officials said on Monday.

Situated in Balochistan, a province long plagued by insurgency and calls for independence, Gwadar airport aims to bolster connectivity in a strategically important yet volatile area.

At the airport’s inauguration ceremony, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif and Chinese officials were present to witness the arrival of the inaugural flight from Pakistan International Airlines, which originated from Karachi.

The ceremony follows a virtual inauguration of the airport months earlier by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Defence Minister Asif thanked China for building the airport and said the airport would play a key role in improving the country’s economy, attracting international investment and bringing prosperity to Balochistan.

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Here’s all you need to know about the airport:

• Gwadar airport is designed to handle up to 400,000 travelers annually, enhancing the region’s ability to support increased passenger and cargo traffic.

• Funded by China at an estimated cost of $230 million, the airport is part of a broader investment strategy in Gwadar, which also includes a deep seaport and other infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

• The airport is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at enhancing trade routes and providing Beijing with direct access to the Arabian Sea shipping lanes through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

• Work on the airport began in 2019, but its opening was delayed due to security concerns, including a rise in attacks on Chinese nationals involved in various projects in the region.

• Despite the potential benefits, the project faces opposition from ethnic Baloch groups who accuse the Chinese and the Pakistani government of economic exploitation, raising concerns about local impact and equity in development.

• The Ministry of Planning and Development said the airport can handle a combination of ATR 72, Airbus, (A-300), Boeing (B-737), and Boeing (B-747) for domestic and international routes.

• Gwadar airport is the country’s largest in terms of area, spread over 4,300 acres of land, according to Pakistan’s civil aviation.

With inputs from agencies