Islamabad: Regarding the recently inaugurated Gwadar Airport, it has been learned that the Pakistani government has not yet prepared any commercial plan in this regard.
While the airport management company says that Gwadar Airport will not be able to become profitable until the Gwadar Port and its adjacent free zone are completed.
It should be noted that Gwadar Airport has been built at a cost of $ 230 million provided by China.
In this regard, in a statement issued after a meeting issued by the Ministry of Planning on Thursday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal criticized the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) and said that both the agencies have not yet been able to prepare any commercial and business plan for Gwadar International Airport, although they had been issued orders in this regard for the last two years.
On the other hand, the PAA administration says that Gwadar International Airport cannot be fully operationalized until the Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone are completed.
While Ahsan Iqbal was of the view that the administration should promote Gwadar as a tourist destination, this does not seem to be happening due to the deteriorating law and order situation and political unrest.
In his statement, Ahsan Iqbal said that if foreign airline companies do not fly here within six months of the inauguration of Gwadar Airport, then the chances of the project’s success will be reduced. Therefore, he suggested that international flights flying here should be provided with incentives and facilities during the first five years so that the project can be activated and successful.
On this occasion, Ahsan Iqbal expressed disappointment over the two-year delay in planning commercial and other matters related to the airport and said that at present, international airline companies are using Oman and Dubai airports for technical facilities and if Gwadar is activated, they will be able to get technical facilities there at a cheaper price.
During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal directed the Civil Aviation Authority officials to also start work for the launch of air cargo from Gwadar Airport and to contact international air cargo companies in this regard so that work can start on it as soon as possible.
On this occasion, the Planning Minister gave the relevant authorities a deadline of three weeks to prepare all the plans in this regard.
During the meeting, Additional Director General of Pakistan Airports Authority Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed said that at present, work is being done on security arrangements, airspace and other administrative matters regarding Gwadar Airport and it will be completed by December.
