First flight lands at Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan's restive southwest

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight landed at the newly inaugurated Gwadar International Airport, marking the first commercial aircraft to arrive at the facility in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.

The airport, located near Gwadar Port, is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project linking China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s coastline.

The new airport is seen as a significant milestone in infrastructure, with the collaboration of Pakistani and Chinese teams. It aims to drive economic growth in Balochistan and enhance trade and tourism opportunities for the region and the wider country.