GWADAR, PAKISTAN – A state-of-the-art, $240 million airport in Gwadar, Pakistan, remains devoid of flights and passengers months after its completion, raising questions about the feasibility of large-scale infrastructure projects in the region. The New Gwadar International Airport, funded by China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was officially completed in October 2024 but has yet to begin commercial operations.
The project was envisioned as a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), designed to transform Gwadar into a strategic trade hub connecting China’s Xinjiang region to the Arabian Sea. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The city, home to approximately 90,000 people, continues to grapple with severe economic hardships, limited infrastructure, and ongoing security challenges.
Despite billions of dollars in Chinese investment over the past decade, Gwadar remains disconnected from Pakistan’s national power grid, relying instead on inconsistent electricity imports from Iran and scattered solar panels. Access to clean drinking water is also scarce, adding to the daily struggles of residents. The airport, which boasts a planned annual capacity of 400,000 passengers—nearly five times the city’s population—has faced skepticism over its practicality, given the region’s limited connectivity and demand for air travel.
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Local officials claim that CPEC-related projects have generated around 2,000 jobs in Gwadar, but it remains unclear how many of these opportunities have been extended to the province’s Baloch residents, who have historically faced economic marginalization. The city itself remains isolated, with limited domestic flights operating only a few times a week to Karachi and no direct links to major cities such as Islamabad. Travel to Gwadar by road also presents challenges, as the coastal highway lacks essential facilities, further discouraging movement in and out of the region.
The airport’s opening in late 2024 was conducted through a virtual ceremony attended remotely by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Security concerns played a significant role in the decision, with officials fearing potential attacks from nearby mountainous areas. The inaugural flight took off without media coverage, reflecting the secrecy that often surrounds CPEC projects.
As it stands, the New Gwadar International Airport has become a stark symbol of the region’s paradox: while grand infrastructure projects continue to be launched under CPEC, the daily realities of Gwadar’s residents remain largely unchanged. Whether the airport will eventually fulfill its intended role or become another underutilized mega-project remains an open question.
