Gawadar: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate new Gwadar International Airport on March 23 in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, sources told.

Civil Aviation Authority as per sources has completed safety check of airport and declared it clear and fully prepared for flight operation. Government is likely to inaugurate flight operations at Airport on Pakistan Day March 23, they added.

Airport is located in Gurandani which is 26km east of Gwadar city. Financing of project was done through Chinese government’s grant under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and its cost was estimated at $ 230 million. According to CPEC website, airport’s construction created 3,000 jobs.

Minister Ahsan Iqbal chairing a review meeting on “Test flight at new Gwadar International Airport” in Islamabad.

Progress on projects including CAA Complex, Land slide Infrastructure, Cargo building, ASF Camp for 1050 Personnel, 132 kV grid station came under discussion. pic.twitter.com/BnobXUjyeG

— Ministry of Planning and Development (@PlanComPakistan) March 9, 2023

Groundbreaking ceremony of Airport was held on March 29, 2019 by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan who was prime minister at time. Implementation of project was handed over to Aviation Division. As per China-Pakistan Economic Corridor website, expected completion date of project was March 2023. Earlier Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal chaired review meeting on “Test flight at new Gwadar International Airport” in Islamabad.

According to tweet by ministry, meeting discussed progress on projects including CAA Complex, landslide infrastructure, cargo building, Airports Security Force (ASF) Camp for 1,050 Personnel and 132kV grid station.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 10 2023

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