Pakistan has delayed the opening of the $246 million New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) due to security concerns, further complicating efforts to attract Chinese investment into its struggling economy. The airport, near the strategic Gwadar port, was set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on August 14, coinciding with Pakistan’s Independence Day.
The decision to postpone the opening followed mass protests in Gwadar, which brought the city to a near standstill earlier this month. No new date has been announced for the launch of the China-funded project, which has faced multiple delays since its inception in 2015.
Despite the airport being ready for operations, the delay underscores ongoing security challenges in the region, including militant attacks and a separatist insurgency in Balochistan province. The new airport, designed to handle large aircraft like the Airbus A380, is Pakistan’s largest by size but faces concerns over its commercial viability due to low demand for flights.
The delay comes as part of broader struggles to develop Gwadar into a major hub under the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. Although Chinese airlines are expected to begin direct flights once the airport opens, experts caution that demand may remain limited in the short term.
The postponement also highlights Beijing’s growing concerns about its investments in Pakistan, following a series of deadly attacks targeting Chinese nationals. Islamabad, grappling with economic turmoil, has promised enhanced security measures and new counterterror operations.
Local residents remain skeptical about the airport’s benefits, viewing it as more suited to government and diplomatic use rather than serving the needs of the local population, which largely consists of impoverished fishermen. Some fear the airport could become a “white elephant,” similar to other underutilized infrastructure projects financed by Chinese loans.
25th Aug 2024
Comments