Work on new Gwadar airport begins in 2019

beijing — The work on a new international airport, vocational training centre and friendship hospital at Gwadar is likely to start in the first quarter of next year.

Both the Chinese and Pakistani governments were discussing modalities to use the Chinese grant to implement these projects, according to official sources on Sunday.

All necessary work for the new airport including design and feasibility study have been finalised.

The completion of the new airport will place Gwadar, an important component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, on the global aviation map. It will be an airport of international standards, capable of handling the largest of passenger planes, including the A380 Boeing.

Besides, it will also facilitate the movement of international investors and visitors.

The Civil Aviation of Authority (CAA) has earmarked 3000 acres of land 26km northeast of the existing airport. The new airport will operate under the open skies policy. There are plans to improve facilities at the existing airport to facilitate

the movement wide-bodied aircraft.

Efforts are also on to start work on a technical and vocational institute early next year to meet the demand for skilled workers. The land has been acquired for the purpose, while the design and feasibility study have also been completed. The construction of a China-Pakistan friendship of hospital to ensure medical facilities to the local population will start in the next few months.

The pilot phase of the free economic zone has been completed. In the initial stage, $48 million have been invested by five Chinese and three Pakistani companies. The main coverage area of the free economic zone will be 923 acres and work on it is likely to start in the next phase.

A project for provision of 200,000-gallon water to the residents of Gwadar has been started.

In February 2015, Gwadar port was handed over to the Chinese Overseas Port Holding Company to make it operational. Vessels and ships have started bringing cargo and equipment for the port work which will become fully operational in three to four years. —