The Quetta International Airport Runway Reconstruction project has won the prestigious FIDIC Asia Pacific Award for Engineering Excellence, announced the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday. The award, presented at the FIDIC Asia Pacific Conference 2025 in Islamabad, celebrates outstanding infrastructure achievements in consulting engineering across the region.
This major aviation project delivered Pakistan’s longest and structurally largest rigid runway, completed in carefully planned phases without halting airport operations. According to the PAA, the runway was built on a joint-user airfield and achieved remarkable results: zero safety incidents, zero operational closures, and zero contractual claims—a rare feat in global infrastructure projects.
The Rs5 billion project was recognized for its effective collaboration, technical innovation, and strict safety standards, with both the PAA and its consultants jointly receiving the award. The newly reconstructed runway saw its first official flight, PK-3250 from Islamabad, land on May 31, 2023, marking the beginning of full operations.
International recognition continues to grow for the project. Palomino Elvira, a FIDIC-accredited mediator and global construction advisor, has invited the PAA to present the project as a case study at upcoming FIDIC conferences in South Africa and France, later this year.
This achievement is seen as a milestone for Pakistan’s aviation and engineering sectors, showcasing their ability to deliver world-class infrastructure while maintaining operational continuity and safety at the highest international standards.