Gwadar International Airport will be inaugurated today, with a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight becoming the first commercial aircraft to land at the new airport.
A Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) official confirmed that the New Gwadar International Airport will begin operations from today.
A PIA spokesperson said that flight PK 503 from Karachi to Gwadar will land in the morning.
According to the flight schedule available on the website of Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the flight is expected to depart at 9:20 am.
Apart from the passengers, senior officers of the Aviation Division will also join the inaugural flight.
The flight will receive a traditional water salute from water bowsers upon landing.
Minister for Defence and Aviation Khawaja Asif is expected to welcome the passengers at the new airport, where a short ceremony will be held to celebrate the inaugural flight.
Balochistan Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhel, Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Secretary Aviation Division Ahsan Ali Mangi, DG PAA Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, DG Airports Security Force Major General Adnan Asif Jahshad and DG Civil Aviation Authority Nader Shafi Dar will also attend the ceremony.
The new airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Pakistan in October.
