On October 14, a completion ceremony for the new Gwadar International Airport project, funded by China, was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Pakistan.
The Gwadar International Airport is a key project within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The construction included a new runway, taxiways, parking areas, passenger terminal, and various supporting facilities.
In June of this year, the airport completed its flight testing, signaling that it is ready to begin operations. Recently, our correspondent visited the site to witness the acceptance inspection firsthand.
The significance of technology transfer from China cannot be overstated. Gwadar, meaning “Gate of Winds” in Urdu, is a port city in the southwest of Pakistan, named for the sea breezes that flow year-round due to its coastal location.
Ding Kan, the project manager for the Gwadar International Airport, shared that the design standards and most materials for the construction originated from China. This initiative has helped elevate the technical standards for civil aviation equipment and materials domestically.
One standout feature of the airport is the design of the terminal roof. Initially, the project team learned that wind speeds in Gwadar could reach up to 200 kilometers per hour during hurricanes, which poses a risk of significant damage to the terminal. To address this, they utilized stainless steel welding techniques to unite metal plates into a cohesive structure that can withstand extreme winds.
The terminal’s design resembles a soaring mythical bird, symbolizing a “Great Roc Spreading Its Wings.” According to Hu Xiaohua, the technical team leader, this imagery reflects the idea of taking off against the wind, implying that the airport’s opening will provide a substantial boost to the economic development and livelihood improvements for the people of Gwadar and Balochistan. The elegant, flowing curves of the terminal’s ceiling are also a testament to the careful planning and execution by all project teams.
The construction faced numerous challenges due to the region’s complex climatic and soil conditions. The soil in Gwadar exhibits significant subsidence and dissolution potential, making airport construction particularly difficult. To ensure high-quality results, the project team worked exclusively at night.
Dai Chun zhuang, deputy head of the technical team, explained, “After extensive testing and consulting with experts, we decided on a method involving two rounds of point compaction followed by one round of full compaction to treat the 720,000 square meters of land.”
Once the Gwadar International Airport begins its operations, it will integrate with the Gwadar Port’s maritime routes and the East Bay Expressway, forming a modern transportation network that significantly enhances local economic development and regional connectivity.
Fayyaz Ulla Khattack, the project manager, stated, “This airport will play a crucial role in the development and enhancement of the Gwadar region, as well as in improving Pakistan’s economic situation. With Gwadar’s enormous freight potential, the airport is set to welcome a surge in both passenger and cargo flights.”
