By 
20-01-2025
Hailey Archer
Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
The largest airport in Pakistan has just opened in Gwadar, Balochistan, on the southern coast of Pakistan, after being under construction since 2019 (Sattar, 2025). China funded and built the Gwadar International Airport (Sattar, 2025). Gwadar, a strategic coastal city in Pakistan along the Arabian Sea, has been one of China’s major investment projects over the years (Sattar, 2025). A seaport was also constructed as part of the Chinese President’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) (Sattar, 2025).
The Belt and Road Initiative was an infrastructure project started by the president of China, Xi Jinping in 2013 (McBride. 2023). Originally intended to physically connect East Asia and Europe, the BRI has now grown into a global initiative, significantly boosting China’s economic and political influence (McBride, 2023). The construction of the new Gwadar International Airport is also an important project for the China-Pakistan corridor (McBride, 2019). The opening of this airport in Balochistan is meant to foster economic developments as well as bring in foreign investments to the region of Balochistan, which over the years has had much violence (Times of India, 2025).
Sources and further readings:
Mcbride, J., Berman, N., & Chatzky, A. (2023, February 2). China’s massive Belt and Road initiative. Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed 20 January 2025. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative
Pakistan’s largest airport becomes operational, part of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative. (2025, January 20). The Times of India. Accessed 20 January 2025. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistans-largest-airport-becomes-operational-part-of-the-chinese-belt-and-road-initiative/articleshow/117396173.cms
Pakistan’s largest airport welcomes first flight, marking long-awaited inauguration. (2025, January 20). Islamabad Post. Accessed 20 January 2025. https://islamabadpost.com.pk/pakistans-largest-airport-welcomes-first-flight-marking-long-awaited-inauguration/
Sattar, A. (2025, January 20). Pakistan’s largest airport becomes operational, part of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative. AP News. Accessed 20 January 2025. https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-china-funded-gwadar-airport-balochistan-50003e2c038e53841e8378c863c353ac
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