From Our Correspondent:Â
Gwadar: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to make history as its flight PK-503 from Karachi lands at the newly operational Gwadar International Airport today, marking the first commercial flight to arrive at the state-of-the-art facility.
An official from the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) confirmed that the New Gwadar International Airport will officially begin operations on Monday. The airport is expected to significantly boost connectivity and economic activity in the region.
According to the flight schedule available on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport website, PK-503 is scheduled to depart at 9:20 am and will land in Gwadar shortly after. Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif will be present to welcome passengers at the airport. A brief ceremony is also planned to celebrate the historic occasion.
Notable attendees at the event include Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Aviation Division Secretary Ahson Ali Mangi, PAA Director General Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, Airports Security Force DG Major General Adnan Asif Jah Shad, and Civil Aviation Authority DG Nadir Shafi Dar.
The New Gwadar International Airport, inaugurated in October by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his visit to Pakistan, is poised to become a hub for regional trade and development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The successful landing of today’s PIA flight signals a new chapter in Gwadar’s aviation history, further solidifying its role as a gateway for economic growth.
