- The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) began operations on January 20, 2025.
- Funded by a $240 million Chinese grant under the CPEC initiative.
- Despite its modern build, the airport remains largely unused.
- Infrastructure gaps, low demand, and security threats hinder operations.
- Critics argue its purpose favors China’s strategic interests over local development.
The Big Picture
Nearly a year after its inauguration, the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) stands as a gleaming but hollow monument. Designed as a flagship of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the airport was funded with a $240 million grant from China and touted as a catalyst for economic transformation in Balochistan.
However, the airport’s vast facilities—designed to handle 400,000 passengers annually—are rarely in use. The first commercial flight by Pakistan International Airlines in January 2025 carried only 46 passengers. Since then, regular flight operations have stagnated, fueling criticism that the NGIA is more symbolic than functional.
‘No Planes, No Passengers’
In February 2025, Associated Press described the facility as virtually empty, with “no planes, no passengers”—a harsh assessment for an airport that took years to build and billions in planning and logistics.
In a recent report, The Independent added to the scrutiny, calling the airport “a mystery” and questioning why such an expansive hub with 400,000 passenger capacity airport was constructed in a remote city of just 90,000 people. The piece emphasized the disconnect between investment scale and local demand.
Infrastructure and Security Struggles
Beyond the lack of passengers, Gwadar continues to face chronic infrastructure problems. Reliable water, electricity, and road connectivity are still absent in many parts of the city. These limitations reduce commercial incentives and deter airlines from operating regular routes to NGIA.
Security concerns further compound the issue. The airport’s opening was delayed due to separatist threats, and the broader Balochistan region remains unstable. While the government launched a Gwadar Safe City Project in July 2025 to address these concerns, its long-term impact is yet to be seen.
Symbolism Over Substance?
Many analysts argue that NGIA’s primary value lies not in local service but in geostrategic positioning. Situated near the Arabian Sea, the airport provides China a logistical edge under the Belt and Road Initiative. Yet, this strategic gain contrasts sharply with local frustrations over joblessness and lack of opportunity tied to CPEC projects.
What is CPEC?
The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a $62 billion strategic initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic integration between China and Pakistan. More than a bilateral project, it serves as a regional gateway with potential benefits for countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and the Central Asian Republics.
The Bottom Line
As of late July 2025, the New Gwadar International Airport remains emblematic of CPEC’s growing contradictions. A state-of-the-art facility built with global ambition continues to sit idle in a region that lacks even the basics. Unless Pakistan’s leadership bridges the gap between megaprojects and on-the-ground needs, NGIA will remain a monument to missed opportunities.
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