STORY: China-aided airport to enhance connectivity, spur economic growth in Pakistan's Gwadar
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 6, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: GWADAR, Pakistan
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the New Gwadar International Airport
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KHALID KAKAR, Airport manager of Gwadar Airport
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): QIN ZHENGRONG, Senior engineer from the China Railway Beijing Engineering Bureau
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZIAUDDIN SALMAN, Engineer representing the National Engineering Services of Pakistan

STORYLINE:

In just a few days, China-aided New Gwadar International Airport would be officially handed over to Pakistani authorities.

Khalid Kakar, airport manager of Gwadar Airport in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, believes that the new facility is set to transform connectivity and foster economic growth in the region.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KHALID KAKAR, Airport manager of Gwadar Airport
"There is no comparison when we talk about old Gwadar and new Gwadar airport, as the old Gwadar has a very limited scope of operation. It has a limited passenger building. It can hardly accommodate [the] small type of aircraft that is called ATR, whereas this airport has all the capacity to accommodate the wide-body aircraft. It has the capacity for future requirements as well."

Kakar said that this advancement will encourage airlines with modern fleets to begin services to and from Gwadar, overcoming the limitations previously posed by the old airport.

The old airport can only accommodate small aircraft with a maximum passenger capacity of several dozen people. 

The new airport is designed to handle wide-body aircraft, significantly enhancing its operational potential, according to the airport manager.
   
He said, besides serving passenger flights, the airport will also play a crucial role in cargo operations.
   
Qin Zhengrong, a senior engineer from the China Railway Beijing Engineering Bureau, told Xinhua that the airport has an apron with five slots capable of accommodating the largest civil aircraft, including the Boeing 747-800.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): QIN ZHENGRONG, Senior engineer from the China Railway Beijing Engineering Bureau
"The geological conditions of the apron are relatively special, mainly based on the collapsible soil and soluble soil, but also accompanied by saline soil, all of which are special soils. Through collecting data on-site in a large number of test sections and multiple rounds of domestic expert demonstration, the method of foundation treatment was finally determined, mainly to do dynamic compaction."

The airport's runway spans 3,658 meters in length and 45 meters in width. With an additional 15-meter shoulders on each side, the total usable width is brought to 75 meters. This makes the airport one of the in Pakistan that is equipped to handle the largest jets.
   
Ziauddin Salman, an engineer representing the National Engineering Services of Pakistan, observed the high-quality standards and finishing techniques used by the Chinese team in the airport's construction.
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZIAUDDIN SALMAN, Engineer representing the National Engineering Services of Pakistan
"That every part of the project and every building and every corner of the building are so designed, so beautifully designed and so beautifully. The quality of design and the quality of construction, which has been presented over here by the Chinese, will become an example for all the constructors, contractors and consultants."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gwadar, Pakistan.
(XHTV)