Mon Jan 20 17:30:13 UTC 2025: ## Gwadar Airport Opens in Restive Balochistan, a Key Component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
**GWADAR, PAKISTAN –** Pakistan’s largest airport, located in the restive Balochistan province, officially opened on January 20, 2025. The $230 million facility, funded and constructed by China, marks a significant milestone in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif and Chinese officials, featured the arrival of a Pakistan International Airlines inaugural flight from Karachi. The airport, with an annual capacity of 400,000 passengers, was virtually inaugurated months earlier by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif.
Construction, which began in 2019, faced delays due to increased militant attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects. The airport, spanning 4,300 acres, is designed to accommodate a range of aircraft for both domestic and international flights.
While the Pakistani government hailed the airport as vital for economic growth and attracting foreign investment to Balochistan, the project remains controversial. Baloch nationalists, who accuse China of economic exploitation, continue to oppose the project and other Chinese initiatives in the region. The airport’s opening underscores the complexities of the CPEC, balancing economic development with security concerns and persistent local opposition.
First Piper 