Gwadar is facing a deepening water crisis due to a prolonged absence of rainfall, creating severe drought conditions and an acute shortage of drinking water. In response, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti chaired a high-level meeting to devise both immediate and long-term strategies to tackle the issue.
The meeting was attended by Gwadar MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman and senior officials from relevant departments. It was decided that ongoing water projects would be accelerated and all available resources mobilized to ensure quick relief for residents.
During the briefing, the Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority informed the participants that the authority’s desalination plant has been restored to a capacity of 300,000 gallons per day, with plans to double this to 600,000 gallons daily within the next three days. The Chief Minister directed that during power outages, the plant should be switched to alternative energy sources to ensure uninterrupted water supply.
He also instructed authorities to expedite coordination for water transmission from the Shadi Kaur Dam and complete all pipeline projects within 15 days. To manage the crisis more effectively, a coordination committee—headed by the Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority and comprising heads of various departments—was formed. This committee will submit daily progress reports to the CM Secretariat.
“The water shortage issue in Gwadar will be resolved at all costs. No negligence or delay will be tolerated,” vowed CM Bugti. He added that he would personally monitor the progress and work to resolve the hardships faced by residents.
The Chief Minister further stated that he would take up the issue of unannounced and prolonged power outages from Iran with the Prime Minister and the Power Division. He emphasized that all current and proposed water projects in Gwadar must be completed on an emergency basis to provide swift relief to the population.
