The new international airport in Gwadar, built with $240 million in funding from China, remains an enigma. Although completed in October 2024, it remains unclear when flights will begin.
Regarded as Pakistan’s most expensive airport, the facility is situated in the coastal city of Gwadar in Balochistan, a region plagued by conflict and economic challenges. Over the past decade, China has invested billions of dollars in Gwadar and the broader region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistani authorities have hailed the airport as a symbol of transformation, but tangible change in Gwadar is limited. The city continues to suffer from electricity and water shortages. The airport, with a capacity of 400,000 passengers, holds little significance for the city’s 90,000 residents.
“This airport is not for Pakistan or Gwadar,” said Azeem Khalid, an international relations expert who specializes in Pakistan-China ties. “It is for China, so they can have secure access for their citizens to Gwadar and Balochistan.”
CPEC has catalyzed a decades long insurgency in resource-rich and strategically located Balochistan. Insurgents, aggrieved by what they say is state exploitation at the expense of locals, are fighting for independence — targeting both Pakistani troops and Chinese workers in the region and elsewhere.
Residents complain of discrimination by the state. Military deployments have increased to protect Chinese investments, and checkpoints, barbed wire, and roadblocks are now common. Journalists report monitoring by security forces, while roads are closed for Chinese workers and Pakistani VIPs.
Challenges Faced by the Local Population
People in Gwadar are concerned about their lack of access to clean drinking water and limited employment opportunities.
“Nobody used to ask where we are going, what we are doing, or what our names are,” said 76-year-old Gwadar native Khuda Bakhsh Hashim.
“We used to enjoy all-night picnics in the mountains or rural areas.”
“Now we are asked to prove our identity—who we are, where we have come from,” he added.
“We are residents. Those who ask should identify themselves as to who they are.”
The government claims CPEC has created around 2,000 local jobs, but it is unclear who counts as ‘local.’ People in Gwadar say they have seen few benefits from Chinese involvement.
They also claim that thousands of people in Balochistan have gone missing and that anyone who speaks out about exploitation risks detention. Human rights activists allege enforced disappearances and torture in Balochistan, but the authorities deny these allegations.
According to Khuda Bakhsh Hashim, locals want CPEC to succeed so they can gain employment, hope, and a sense of purpose, but so far, that has not happened.
CPEC’s Future and Local Concerns
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, militant attacks in Balochistan declined after an anti-insurgency operation launched by the government in 2014. However, since 2021, the number of attacks has increased and continues to rise.
Security concerns also contributed to delays in the airport’s inauguration. Authorities reportedly feared that the nearby mountains could serve as an ideal launching pad for an attack.
Instead of traveling to Gwadar for the airport’s launch, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, opted for a virtual ceremony.
Abdul Ghafoor Hoth, district president of the Balochistan Awami Party, said not a single Gwadar resident was employed at the airport, “not even as a watchman.”
“Forget the other jobs, how many Baloch people are at this port that was built for CPEC?” he asked.
In December, continuous protests were held in Gwadar over the lack of basic facilities. The demonstrations lasted 47 days and ended after authorities promised improved electricity and water supplies. However, no progress has been made in implementing those demands.
Experts argue that without local involvement—whether in labor, resources, or services—CPEC cannot deliver real benefits. As Chinese funding poured into Gwadar, they say a heavy-handed security apparatus followed, creating barriers and deepening mistrust.
“The Pakistani government is not willing to give anything to the Baloch people, and the Baloch are not willing to take anything from the government,” said Azeem Khalid.