Pakistan’s Airport Authority has begun construction of a major air-cargo building at the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), a core component of the airport’s master plan aimed at boosting the movement of goods across Pakistan and overseas. The under-construction facility is being designed to handle containerised cargo and will be equipped with technology for managing heavy and oversized freight.

Its design takes into account labour costs, freight volumes and the need for secure and sustainable operations, Gwadar Pro reported. An NGIA official told Gwadar Pro that the cargo complex would be “safe, secure, sustainable, automated, connected and smart,” enabling seamless data exchange, end-to-end visibility and AI-driven operational optimisation.

The facility will incorporate autonomous ground-support systems, real-time tracking and connected infrastructure to improve efficiency, asset utilisation and shipment-flow visibility, the official said. Pakistan’s air-cargo industry is undergoing a broad transformation, driven by rising trade volumes, shifting customer expectations, regulatory pressures and the need for stronger resilience and sustainability.

Traditional cargo facilities, constrained by ageing infrastructure and manual processes, are under pressure to modernise to meet growing demands for efficiency and scalability.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China