Akwal Airport

The airport was not a commercial facility and its closure was due to project obsolescence. The most widely accepted reason is that the airstrip was built to support oil and gas exploration activities in the Potohar Plateau, a region rich in hydrocarbon resources. Such airfields are common for ferrying personnel, VIPs, and specialized equipment to remote drilling sites. The closure likely occurred after the specific exploration or development phase it served was completed, or when improved road infrastructure, such as the nearby M2 Motorway, made air transport to the site redundant.

As of the latest satellite imagery, the site is completely abandoned and derelict. The single asphalt runway, approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in length, is still clearly visible but is in a state of severe disrepair with extensive cracking, surface degradation, and vegetation growth. There are no remaining airport buildings, hangars, or support infrastructure. The surrounding land is used for agriculture, and the airstrip itself is unused and unsuitable for any aviation activity without a complete reconstruction.

Akwal Airport (more accurately, the Akwal/Talagang Airstrip) holds minor historical significance as a special-purpose airfield. It was never a public or commercial airport and did not handle scheduled flights. Its primary role was logistical support for a specific industry, most likely oil and gas exploration by state-owned enterprises like the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) or their partners. Operations would have been limited to chartered light transport and general aviation aircraft (e.g., Cessna, Beechcraft King Air) capable of using a relatively short and basic runway. The identifier PK-0031 is an unofficial code used in non-governmental aviation databases and not an official ICAO designation.

There are no known or publicly announced plans to reopen or rehabilitate the Akwal Airstrip. Given the lack of commercial demand, its proximity to major military airbases (like PAF Base Minhas in Kamra), and the excellent ground transportation network in the region, there is no apparent strategic or economic justification for its reopening for either civilian or military purposes.