The inauguration of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) in Balochistan, originally scheduled for August 14, Pakistan’s “Independence Day,” has been postponed due to security concerns, according to sources from the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to oversee the launch, with a special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi planned as the first to land at the new airport. Pakistani media reports had indicated that all preparations for the launch were complete.
The New Gwadar International Airport, a key project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is designed to accommodate large aircraft, including the ATR 72, Airbus A300, Boeing 737, and Boeing 747, for both domestic and international flights. The airport, located 26 kilometers northeast of the existing Gwadar airport, was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 54.98 billion (approximately $240 million).
The decision to postpone the inauguration was reportedly due to the security situation in Balochistan, where recent attacks have escalated significantly around Pakistan’s national day celebrations.
Moreover, the situation in Gwadar has been further strained due to the crackdown on participants of the “Baloch Raaji Muchi,” which has heightened tensions between Pakistani authorities and the local Baloch.
