Pakistan’s $240m Gwadar airport sits idle: No flights, no passengers, no buzz

Located 26 kilometers from Gwadar city at Gurandani, the airport spans 430 acres, making it the largest in Pakistan by land. (Image: X)

In the coastal city of Gwadar, Pakistan's latest aviation marvel stands ready for takeoff—yet the skies remain conspicuously empty. The New Gwadar International Airport, a $240 million project entirely bankrolled by China, was completed in October 2024. Despite its state-of-the-art facilities and a capacity to handle 400,000 passengers annually, the airport has yet to welcome its first commercial flight.

This gleaming infrastructure is a cornerstone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), designed to link China's Xinjiang province to the Arabian Sea. However, the local populace of Gwadar, a city grappling with inadequate electricity and water supplies, views the airport as a symbol of external interests overshadowing local needs. "This airport is not for Pakistan or Gwadar," remarks Azeem Khalid, an expert in Pakistan-China relations. "It is for China, so they can have secure access for their citizens to Gwadar and Balochistan."

The region's security dynamics further complicate the airport's operationalization. Balochistan has long been a hotspot for separatist insurgencies, with militants targeting both Pakistani forces and Chinese nationals involved in local projects. In response, the Pakistani government has intensified its military presence, transforming Gwadar into a labyrinth of checkpoints and surveillance—a stark contrast to the once laid-back coastal town.

Promises of economic upliftment through CPEC have yet to materialize for many locals. Job opportunities remain scarce, and the benefits of such mega-projects appear to bypass the indigenous community. Protests demanding basic amenities like clean water and electricity have been met with assurances, but tangible improvements are still awaited.

While the New Gwadar International Airport stands as a testament to ambitious geopolitical strategies, its current dormancy raises questions about the alignment of such projects with the immediate needs and aspirations of the local population.

(With agency inputs)