ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):The government on Friday informed the Senate that the New Gwadar International Airport, operational since Jan 20, 2025, along with the Gwadar Free Zone and improved highway connectivity, is expected to facilitate access for Balochistan’s agricultural, mineral and fisheries sectors to national and international markets.
Responding during the Question Hour on behalf of Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the airport and related infrastructure formed part of broader efforts to strengthen trade logistics and economic activity in the province.
He told the House that a fully developed Gwadar Free Zone, spread over approximately 2,281 acres at Gwadar Port, is operational and designed to support trade, re-export, warehousing, distribution and industrial activities.
The zone also offers opportunities for processing, packaging and value addition of agricultural, mineral and fisheries products originating from Balochistan.
The minister said investors in the free zone are being offered incentives including a 23-year tax holiday on federal, provincial and local taxes, lease options of up to 99 years, and exemption from import duties and sales tax on machinery and equipment.
One-window facilitation, ready warehouses, office space and industrial units, along with security arrangements and internal infrastructure, have also been put in place.
Highlighting connectivity measures, he said Gwadar Airport is linked with other districts through major highways including the M-8 Ratodero–Gwadar motorway, the N-85 Hoshab–Surab highway and the N-10 Makran Coastal Highway connecting Gwadar with Karachi via Pasni and Ormara. The N-25 Karachi–Quetta (Chaman) highway has also been upgraded with federal funding.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the federal government is responsible for ensuring road connectivity between Gwadar Port, the airport and other parts of Balochistan, while development of warehousing and storage facilities at the airport falls under the Defence Division (Aviation), the Civil Aviation Authority and the Pakistan Airports Authority.
Responding to a supplementary question raised by Senator Danish Kumar regarding the Ratodero road and Gwadar-related infrastructure, the minister said the matter primarily fell within the planning domain, adding that extensive details had already been shared in response to the main question.