DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that Pakistan’s second largest cargo airport will be built in Dera Ismail Khan after Gwadar International Airport.
Talking to visiting delegations, he said officials from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) briefed him that the new airport will act as an international trade hub near the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He added that the project will benefit southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as nearby areas in Punjab and Balochistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said land acquisition has started under Section 4, and technical teams are preparing reports to decide the runway’s direction and location. A CAA team will soon give further progress updates.
He also revealed that an industrial zone will be set up near CPEC alongside the airport, with a focus on agro-based industries to create jobs and economic opportunities for local communities.
Responding to questions, the JUIF chief stressed that law and order issues remain a major challenge for development and need to be handled with wisdom and understanding of local conditions.
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Earlier, in January 2025, Pakistan’s largest airport, Gwadar International Airport, became operational with the landing of the first PIA flight from Karachi carrying 46 passengers.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti welcomed the passengers with flowers.
Mr Asif said the new airport is “not an end but a beginning” and called it a milestone for Pakistan’s aviation history. He said the airport would boost business, create jobs, and play a key role in CPEC. CM Bugti added that the airport would speed up the development of Balochistan, open new trade opportunities, and provide employment for locals.
The Gwadar airport, built at a cost of Rs66 billion on 4,300 acres, can handle large aircraft such as Airbus and Boeing planes. It is equipped with modern facilities and security arrangements, making it a key gateway for trade, tourism, and progress in the region.
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