Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

TheMKsports New Gwadar International Airport is regarded as a pivotal infrastructure project and a milestone that makes the Gwadar Port a regional nexus of connectivity. Officially commencing operations on Monday, the airport is anticipated to significantly contribute to Pakistan's economic development and bolster regional economic integration, especially amid the ongoing enhancements to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced in a statement that the New Gwadar International Airport officially began operations on Monday, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency. With the airport now in operation, a modern, integrated transportation network - encompassing sea, land and air - will take shape alongside the deep-water Gwadar Port, the Gwadar Eastbay Expressway and other key infrastructure facilities. This development will significantly boost the overall transportation capacity of the Gwadar region.

Gwadar Port is a deep-water, ice-free harbor, strategically located at the crossroads of the Middle East and South Asia, near key international shipping lanes. As connectivity across sea, land and air continues to improve, Gwadar's emergence as a regional logistics hub is gaining significant momentum. Strengthening transportation links with the Middle East, Central Asia and China will open up new opportunities for Pakistan's economic growth.

The opening of the New Gwadar International Airport will provide Pakistan with a powerful means to capitalize on the potential of the Gwadar Port. The airport, funded and built by China, is a 4F-grade facility capable of accommodating the world's largest civil aircraft, addressing previous connectivity challenges and enabling modern airlines to serve Gwadar. This modern airport is expected to expand Pakistan's air transport capacity, infusing vitality into the economic development of both the Gwadar region and the wider southern part of the country.

Pakistan's economy is on a path to recovery. Despite significant achievements, challenges remain, wrote Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of Finance and Revenue of Pakistan, in an article published on Tuesday as part of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

During this critical phase of recovery, a beneficial attempt could further ignite the nation's economic endogenous momentum. This includes unlocking the strategic potential of the Gwadar port - capitalizing on its geographic advantages to expand Pakistan's trade and deepen its integration into regional supply chains.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has called for intensified efforts to promote trade between Gulf countries and China via the Gwadar Port in the country's southwest Balochistan province, Xinhua reported on January 9. Calling the Gwadar Port "one of Pakistan's most valuable assets," Iqbal stressed the need for a robust action plan within six months to generate trade traffic through the port, with an aim to create jobs for local residents and boost the regional economy.

Moreover, as China and Pakistan intensify their efforts to enhance the CPEC through an upgraded version focused on industrial cooperation, the New Gwadar International Airport is emerging as a key project within the CPEC. This airport is set to play a crucial role in bolstering the region's significance in international logistics, trade and travel, thereby elevating Pakistan's economic importance in the broader regional landscape.

By facilitating trade, logistics and travel, it will strengthen cross-border connections. The airport's advanced refrigerated cargo facilities are set to give a significant boost to exports of local seafood, further integrating Gwadar's economy into the global market. More convenient passenger transportation will also bring more visitors and investors for local tourism and industrialization, key focuses of the upgraded version of the CPEC.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]