Shedding light on some issues in Gwadar

Gwadar Port is truly a game changer for Pakistan’s economy. The recent developments in Gwadar have outshined the importance of all other infrastructural and developmental projects in the country. Encouraging news reports are shared every other day, building the right kind of hype for this city, which is in the process of becoming one of the largest contemporary port cities in the world. Each day, a new country shows its willingness to become a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which means Gwadar is becoming an economic reality on the international trade front. Yet, there are certain issues that need the urgent attention of the authorities concerned.

As far as the security condition of Baluchistan in general and Gwadar in particular is concerned, the matter rests in the safe hands of the Pakistan Army. So consider this end thoroughly covered. There, however, are other issues such as the shortage of water. Many news reports identifying this issue have been published on different platforms and lately, Minister of Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal has also tried to address the issue by directing the authorities concerned to solve it. Dropping water level in the Ankara Kaur Dam is due to the dry weather that the Makran region has been facing for the last couple of years.

All families living in Gwadar purchase water and it is expected that the demand for water here will increase about 10 times in the next 15 years, suggesting that in order to help the port city grow, the water issue needs be addressed on a priority basis. Considering the current situation of water flow from the rivers located in the Indian occupied Kashmir, we are left with no other option but to rely on the rain water. Looking at the changing climate conditions, much dependence on the rain water can prove to be fatal. Water issues need a solution. And I wonder if we are looking at China to sort this out for us in exchange for the CPEC project.

Apart from the water shortage, real estate scams have also been reported, leaving potential investors wary of investing in this port city. Some estate agents, using their connections with well-reputed institutes of Pakistan, are allegedly selling land at higher rates and are also using fake documents to sell land even in those areas where the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) had put a complete ban on buying and selling of property. So, the authority should take stern action in this regard.

As reported earlier, a new master plan of Gwadar is in the making because of which the GDA had to put a ban on property transfer, allotment and issuance of NOCs to new developers. Reportedly, the ban has been lifted while all the required work is still being carried out to make a new master plan for the city. The new master plan is crucial to identify the areas where property investment will be a safe bet.

In addition to that, protecting the interests of the local population is also of great importance and we must make sure that they feel proud of being part of the economic growth that the whole country is so excited about. Perhaps providing better health and educational facilities to them could be the way to go about it.

Some experts believe that CPEC, which is said to be completed by 2055, has a long way to go and people trying to monopolise the real estate sector of Gwadar on the basis of factors other than the ground realities should be discouraged. In any case, property flipping in Gwadar should not be encouraged and the city should not be taken as more than merely a place to generate real estate investment profit. What is your take in this regard? Share your views with me in the comments section below.