Pakistan's New Gwadar International Airport commences operations
The New Gwadar International Airport officially commenced operations on Jan 20, welcoming its inaugural flight in the country's southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.
A flight of Pakistan International Airlines landed at 11:14 am local time, marking the airport's first commercial arrival, the statement added.
The flight was received by Pakistan's Federal Minister for Defence, Defence Production and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti, and senior officials from the government and the PCAA. The flight was also honored with a water cannon salute upon landing.
The China-assisted airport is a state-of-the-art 4F-grade facility capable of hosting the world's largest civil aircraft. Its 3,658-meter-long, 75-meter-wide runway, built with specialized foundation treatment, sets a new benchmark in engineering standards.
Describing the airport as a shining example of Pakistan-China friendship, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his satisfaction with the commencement of flights.
"We have crossed another milestone in making Gwadar a vital hub connecting Central and Eastern Asia with the Middle East and Gulf countries," the prime minister said in a statement from his office.
He said that the opening of the airport represents a significant step, not only for Pakistan but for the entire region.
The new airport will help realize the dream of development for Pakistan and the region under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, envisioned by the Chinese and Pakistani leadership, Sharif noted.
Xinhua
