The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has expressed concern over the delay in completing the construction work of New Gwadar International Airport.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the foundation stone of New Gwadar International Airport was laid in 2019 and was supposed to be operational in 2023. Still, the construction work has not been completed.
The aviation sources said SIFC has given instructions to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials to complete the construction work of the airport soon and open it for flight operations.
SIFC also directed the CAA authorities that the Gwadar International Airport is strategically important for the country's economy and being operational will accelerate foreign investment and activities at Gwadar Port.
As per the announcement of the Director General of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Mujeeb Ur Rehman Qambrani on August 07, 2022, the largest Gwadar International Airport would be operational in Sept 2023 to connect it to the major cities of Pakistan and the world.
In his presentation to the business community of Punjab provincial capital, the GDA DG stated that the seaport was getting ready to anchor the mother ships of up to 70,000 Metric Tons.
He announced that Gwadar is now being linked to the national grid by the end of next year, as an agreement of a power supply of 100MW has been signed in this regard to lessen the city’s dependence on electricity supply from Iran.
Moreover, the 300MW coal power plant is also under construction to fulfil the immediate electricity needs of this coastal city. He revealed the GDA was going to have a big investment conference in Gwadar to attract new investment in the manufacturing sector in the area.
At the beginning of this year, the CAA upgraded the New Gwadar International Airport category and placed it in category 'C'. The Authority has placed the airport in the category until 2025.
As per international standards, the airports falling in this category are suitable for all kinds of operations in all conditions.
Reporter: Shoaib Mukhtar