Government Approves Gwadar International Airport Project.

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday approved, in principle, the New Gwadar International Airport project at a cost of Rs55.4 billion, about 147% higher than the first revision, and also sanctioned a reduction in the scope of an important Gwadar road scheme.

The decisions were taken by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) – a body having the mandate to scrutinize and approve development schemes and refer the mega ones for final ratification of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec). Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jehanzeb Khan chaired the CDWP meeting.

The CDWP took up the New Gwadar International Airport project, which would be built with the help of Pakistan government funds and a Chinese grant of 1.52 billion yuan or Rs34 billion. The total cost of the project is Rs55.4 billion.

The new Gwadar airport is considered important for the development of Gwadar Port and its free zone. The Ministry of Planning is now gradually taking back the control of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) after the CPEC Authority law lapsed four months ago.