New Gwadar International Airport Ready After Testing and Commissioning
The New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) has completed its testing and commissioning phase as of July 19. This three-month process, which started on April 15, ensured that the airport meets all design, operational, and safety standards while adhering to maintenance and regulatory requirements.
The comprehensive testing covered the entire airport infrastructure, including the runway, taxiway, apron, electrical systems, telecommunications networks, security features, water supply, and grid station.
A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan official explained that the testing and commissioning involved engineering techniques to inspect and test every operational component, ensuring they function as required.
Last July, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the NGIA’s infrastructure, which includes 32 components such as civil, technical, electrical, and communication facilities.
The next step is constructing a cargo complex to handle various types of cargo. Once completed, NGIA will be the largest airport in Pakistan and the second in the country to operate under an open sky policy. It will accommodate both narrow-body aircraft like the ATR 72 and Boeing B-737, as well as wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747, supporting both domestic and international flights. The project, costing Rs. 60.208 billion, is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is located 26km northeast of the existing Gwadar City airport on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Balochistan.
