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Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Gwadar development: Senate panel calls for concrete steps
ISLAMABAD: Senator Quratulain Marri stressed that basic need such as water supply must be prioritised over tourism in Gwadar. 'A master plan is not just about tourism; it must first ensure the welfare of local residents.' Presiding the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, to review key development initiatives, project delays, and progress under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024–25, here on Thursday, Senator Marri asked for a clear strategy on how proposed investments would yield tangible incentives for development in the region. The secretary Ministry of Communications briefed the committee, on the Sukkur Karachi Motorway project and ongoing negotiations with the Government of Azerbaijan. He noted that discussions have also been initiated with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) with expectations that the bank will fund Section IV (Naushehro Feroz Ranipur) and Section V (Ranipur Sukkur), and also that there is anticipation to obtain board approval by September 2025. The chairperson, Senator Quratulain Marri, suggested that the project must not face delays beyond September 2025 and called for a detailed list of deliverables along with monthly progress reports to be shared with the committee. On the Hunza-Khunjerab Road, officials informed that 11 damaged sections have been identified, and repair work is underway. The committee also received a briefing on inspection report by Monitoring Wing, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives on inspection of dam and update on projects of dam construction in Balochistan till date. After reviewing inconsistencies in progress, Senator Marri recommended summoning representatives from WAPDA and the Monitoring and Evaluation team in the next meeting to individually review each dam project and determine causes of delay. In a detailed discussion on the Gwadar Master Plan, the committee reviewed fund allocations, disbursements, and investment strategies. The chairperson committee expressed concern over the delay in the Safe City Project and highlighted a discrepancy: while the Gwadar Development Authority cited reason of lack of funds, the Finance Division confirmed no funding demand was received from the Government of Balochistan. She urged for formal demand procedures to be followed. Senator Manzoor Ahmed raised concerns regarding the protection of small fishermen's rights and questioned the steps taken by the Government of Balochistan in this regard. Senator Marri endorsed his concerns and directed the CPEC Chief Officer, Balochistan, to follow up. Moreover, officials from the Gwadar Development Authority denied the presence of a tanker mafia. Senator Marri expressed that a comprehensive report in July would help clarify the ground realities. The committee was also informed that port charges at Pakistani seaports, particularly Gwadar, and Port Qasim are higher than at any other port in the region. Senator Marri questioned the justification for these higher charges. Officials clarified that the fees are imposed by Customs and the Gwadar Port Authority. The Committee noted that despite Gwadar's strategic importance offering China a reduced maritime route of 2,000 nautical miles compared to the current 10,000 via Xinjiang it remains underutilised. In 2009, 70 ships docked at Gwadar Port, while in 2024, only four arrived. Officials further pointed out that despite being developed after Gwadar, Chabahar Port in Iran is now fully operational, whereas Gwadar remains non-functional. The committee also reviewed fourth quarter PSDP 2024–25 fund utilisation. The secretary Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI), stated that total authorisation stands at Rs1,002.46 billion, with the challenge now being full utilisation by 30 June 2025. While reviewing ministry-wise performance, Senator Marri expressed concern over low expenditures: only seven per cent utilised by the Finance Division, four per cent by Maritime Affairs, and 0 per cent by the Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Division. She recommended that detailed fund utilization reports be shared with respective Senate Standing Committees for further review. The meeting was attended by senators, Saadia Abbasi, Shahadat Awan, Jam Saifullah Khan, and Manzoor Ahmed, along with secretaries from the Planning and Communications ministries, chairman NHA, and senior officials from relevant departments. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Rising sea levels, extreme weather endanger Gwadar
Listen to article Once a vibrant hub for fishing and tourism, the coastal city of Gwadar in Pakistan is now grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change. After a decade of extreme weather events, residents and experts are warning that the city's future is at risk. In February last year, Gwadar endured nearly 30 consecutive hours of torrential rain, which caused widespread flooding, washing away roads, bridges, and communication lines. The city, built on sand dunes and bordered by the Arabian Sea, is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns. Pazeer Ahmed, a hydrologist based in Gwadar, warns that the city's low-lying areas could be partially or fully submerged if sea levels continue to rise. "It's no less than an island nation situation," he said. The city's once-beneficial proximity to the sea has now become an existential threat, with warmer oceans creating bigger waves that are eroding the coastline. Abdul Rahim, deputy director at the Gwadar Development Authority, described the situation as 'alarming,' noting that many homes have already been washed away due to increasing tidal actions and rising sea temperatures. The rise in sea levels, compounded by melting glaciers, has caused significant coastal erosion. Karachi's sea level has already risen by almost 8 inches (20 cm) between 1916 and 2016, with projections suggesting another rise of 1.3 cm by 2040. In areas near Gwadar, including Pishukan and Ganz, waves have submerged mosques, schools, and settlements. In some places, cliffs have eroded, leaving beaches devoid of structures. Despite efforts to build seawalls to protect the coast, these measures have proven inadequate in the face of the growing challenges posed by climate change. Saltwater intrusion has also affected government land and private properties, with residents like former local councillor Qadir Baksh struggling to keep water at bay with daily pumping. 'The rain that came last year hasn't gone,' said Baksh. 'The water rises from the ground with such speed it will reach the four walls of my home if we don't run the generator every day to extract it.' The rapid urbanisation and construction in Gwadar have worsened flooding, with traditional drainage systems being disrupted. The city, a key component of a major Chinese-led development project, has seen significant investment in infrastructure, including a deep seaport, an international airport, and expressways. However, despite foreign investments, the city lacks a proper sewage and drainage system, which exacerbates its vulnerability. Fishing, once a key industry, has also been severely impacted. Shrinking fish catches, disappearing native species, and changing migration patterns have left the community struggling. Rising sea temperatures and invasive species like pufferfish are contributing to these challenges, alongside illegal fishing practices and foreign trawlers. Agriculture in the surrounding areas has suffered from water scarcity, with locals reporting declining crop yields and livestock deaths. The broader pattern of climate extremes, including floods, heatwaves, and droughts, has led to a decrease in farming productivity across Pakistan, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 'There are heatwaves and dust storms in Gwadar,' said Ahmed. 'But the main impact of climate change here is that there is too much water and not enough of it. If nothing is done to address this problem, we will have no option but to retreat.' As climate change continues to threaten Gwadar's economy and livelihoods, experts are urging immediate action to safeguard the city's future.
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
A city looked at the sea as a blessing. It's now sinking into it
The ocean was once a blessing for the coastal Pakistani city of Gwadar, which relies heavily on fishing and domestic tourism. Now, after a decade of extreme weather, it's become an existential threat. Last February, Gwadar was briefly cut off from the rest of Pakistan amid nearly 30 consecutive hours of rain. Bridges were washed out, houses were destroyed and huge craters appeared in the roads. The city, which is home to about 90,000 people, is built on sand dunes and bordered by the Arabian Sea on three sides. Its low elevation makes it vulnerable to climate change — which has already impacted Pakistan in catastrophic ways. 'It's no less than an island nation situation,' warned Gwadar-based hydrologist Pazeer Ahmed. 'Many low-lying areas in the town will be partially or completely submerged if the sea level continues to rise.' Warming oceans mean bigger and more powerful waves, and those waves get whipped higher by summer monsoon winds. Warmer air holds more moisture — about 7 per cent more per degree Celsius — and that means more big rain events. 'Waves have become more violent due to the rising sea temperatures and eroded beaches,' said Abdul Rahim, deputy environment director at Gwadar Development Authority. 'The tidal actions and patterns have changed. Hundreds of homes have been washed away. It is very alarming.' Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, another cause of coastal erosion. The sea level at Karachi rose almost 20 centimetres between 1916 and 2016, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's projected to rise about 1.3 centimetres more by 2040. In areas near Gwadar, like Pishukan and Ganz, waves have swallowed up mosques, schools, and settlements. There are gashes in the cliffs at the popular picnic spot of Sunset Park, and rocks have cascaded onto the shore. Beaches run flat for dozens of kilometres because no structures remain on it. Authorities have built seawalls from stone or concrete to hold back saltwater intrusion. But they're a small solution to a massive problem as Gwadar's people and businesses are fighting climate change on different fronts. Saltwater pools on government land, salt crystals glistening in the sunshine. In the Shado Band neighbourhood, former local councillor Qadir Baksh fretted about water seeping up through the ground and into his courtyard every day, held at bay only by regular pumping. Dozens of houses have the same problem, he said. Officials, including Ahmed and Rahim, said changes in land use and unauthorised building are worsening flooding. Locals said some major construction projects have destroyed traditional drainage pathways. Gwadar is the centerpiece of a massive Chinese-led initiative to create an overland route between its western Xinjiang region and the Arabian Sea through Gwadar. Hundreds of millions of dollars have poured into the town to create a deep seaport, an international airport, expressways and other infrastructure. The more sensitive projects, especially the port, are tightly secured by the Pakistani military, out of sight and off-limits to the public. But there is no proper sewage or drainage system for residents despite a decade of foreign investment, and Gwadar's porosity, high water table, rising sea levels, and heavier rainfall are rocket fuel for the town's vulnerability. There's nowhere for the water to go. 'In the past when it rained, the water disappeared up to 10 days later,' said Baksh. 'But the rain that came last year hasn't gone. The water rises from the ground with such speed it will reach the four walls of my home if we don't run the generator every day to extract it. Officials say it's because of climate change but, whatever it is, we're suffering.' Gwadar's fishing community is also hurting. Catches are smaller, native fish are disappearing, and migration patterns and fishing seasons have changed, said Ahmed and Rahim. There is also algae bloom and the invasion of unwanted marine species like pufferfish. Illegal fishing and foreign trawlers are responsible for a few of these things, but it's mostly rising sea temperatures. People have migrated from places like Dasht and Kulanch because of water scarcity. What agriculture there was in Gwadar's surrounding areas is vanishing due to loss of farmland and livestock deaths, according to locals. It's part of a wider pattern in which Pakistan's farmers are seeing declining crop yields and increasing crop diseases due to climate extremes, particularly floods, droughts and heat waves, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 'There are heat waves and dust storms in Gwadar,' said Ahmed. 'But the main impact of climate change here is that there is too much water and not enough of it. If nothing is done to address this problem, we will have no option but to retreat.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The sea was once a blessing for the Pakistani city of Gwadar. But it's become a curse
GWADAR, Pakistan (AP) — There was a time when few people in the coastal Pakistani city of Gwadar understood what climate change was. After a decade of extreme weather, many more do. Rain battered Gwadar for almost 30 consecutive hours last February. Torrents washed out roads, bridges, and lines of communication, briefly cutting the peninsula town off from the rest of Pakistan. Homes look like bombs have struck them and drivers swerve to avoid craters where asphalt used to be. Gwadar is in Balochistan, an arid, mountainous, and vast province in Pakistan's southwest that has searing summers and harsh winters. The city, with about 90,000 people, is built on sand dunes and bordered by the Arabian Sea on three sides, at a low elevation that makes it vulnerable to climate change in a country that has already seen its share of catastrophe from it. 'It's no less than an island nation situation,' warned Gwadar-based hydrologist Pazeer Ahmed. 'Many low-lying areas in the town will be partially or completely submerged if the sea level continues to rise.' The sea, once a blessing for Gwadar's fishing and domestic tourism sectors, has become an existential threat to lives and livelihoods. Warming oceans mean bigger and more powerful waves, and those waves get whipped higher by summer monsoon winds. Warmer air holds more moisture -- about 7% more per degree Celsius (4% per degree Fahrenheit) — and that means more big rain events. 'Waves have become more violent due to the rising sea temperatures and eroded beaches,' said Abdul Rahim, deputy environment director at Gwadar Development Authority. 'The tidal actions and patterns have changed. Hundreds of homes have been washed away. It is very alarming.' Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, another cause of coastal erosion. The sea level at Karachi rose almost 8 inches (almost 20 centimeters) between 1916 and 2016, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's projected to rise another half-inch (about 1.3 centimeters) by 2040. In areas near Gwadar, like Pishukan and Ganz, waves have swallowed up mosques, schools, and settlements. There are gashes in the cliffs at the popular picnic spot of Sunset Park, and rocks have cascaded onto the shore. Beaches run flat for dozens of kilometers because no structures remain on it. Authorities have built seawalls from stone or concrete to hold back saltwater intrusion. But they're a small solution to a massive problem as Gwadar's people and businesses are fighting climate change on different fronts. Saltwater pools on government land, salt crystals glistening in the sunshine. In the Shado Band neighbourhood, former local councillor Qadir Baksh fretted about water seeping up through the ground and into his courtyard every day, held at bay only by regular pumping. Dozens of houses have the same problem, he said. Officials, including Ahmed and Rahim, said changes in land use and unauthorized building are worsening flooding. Locals said some major construction projects have destroyed traditional drainage pathways. Gwadar is the centerpiece of a massive Chinese-led initiative to create an overland route between its western Xinjiang region and the Arabian Sea through Gwadar. Hundreds of millions of dollars have poured into the town to create a deep seaport, an international airport, expressways and other infrastructure. The more sensitive projects, especially the port, are tightly secured by the Pakistani military, out of sight and off-limits to the public. But there is no proper sewage or drainage system for residents despite a decade of foreign investment, and Gwadar's porosity, high water table, rising sea levels, and heavier rainfall are rocket fuel for the town's vulnerability. There's nowhere for the water to go. 'In the past when it rained, the water disappeared up to 10 days later,' said Baksh. 'But the rain that came last year hasn't gone. The water rises from the ground with such speed it will reach the four walls of my home if we don't run the generator every day to extract it. Officials say it's because of climate change but, whatever it is, we're suffering.' Gwadar's fishing community is also hurting. Catches are smaller, native fish are disappearing, and migration patterns and fishing seasons have changed, said Ahmed and Rahim. There is also algae bloom and the invasion of unwanted marine species like pufferfish. Illegal fishing and foreign trawlers are responsible for a few of these things, but it's mostly rising sea temperatures. People have migrated from places like Dasht and Kulanch because of water scarcity. What agriculture there was in Gwadar's surrounding areas is vanishing due to loss of farmland and livestock deaths, according to locals. It's part of a wider pattern in which Pakistan's farmers are seeing declining crop yields and increasing crop diseases due to climate extremes, particularly floods, droughts and heat waves, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 'There are heat waves and dust storms in Gwadar,' said Ahmed. 'But the main impact of climate change here is that there is too much water and not enough of it. If nothing is done to address this problem, we will have no option but to retreat.' ____ Associated Press data journalist Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Riazat Butt, The Associated Press
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
The sea was once a blessing for the Pakistani city of Gwadar. But it's become a curse
GWADAR, Pakistan (AP) — There was a time when few people in the coastal Pakistani city of Gwadar understood what climate change was. After a decade of extreme weather, many more do. Rain battered Gwadar for almost 30 consecutive hours last February. Torrents washed out roads, bridges, and lines of communication, briefly cutting the peninsula town off from the rest of Pakistan. Homes look like bombs have struck them and drivers swerve to avoid craters where asphalt used to be. Gwadar is in Balochistan, an arid, mountainous, and vast province in Pakistan's southwest that has searing summers and harsh winters. The city, with about 90,000 people, is built on sand dunes and bordered by the Arabian Sea on three sides, at a low elevation that makes it vulnerable to climate change in a country that has already seen its share of catastrophe from it. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'It's no less than an island nation situation,' warned Gwadar-based hydrologist Pazeer Ahmed. 'Many low-lying areas in the town will be partially or completely submerged if the sea level continues to rise.' The sea, once a blessing for Gwadar's fishing and domestic tourism sectors, has become an existential threat to lives and livelihoods. Warming oceans mean bigger and more powerful waves, and those waves get whipped higher by summer monsoon winds. Warmer air holds more moisture -- about 7% more per degree Celsius (4% per degree Fahrenheit) — and that means more big rain events. 'Waves have become more violent due to the rising sea temperatures and eroded beaches,' said Abdul Rahim, deputy environment director at Gwadar Development Authority. 'The tidal actions and patterns have changed. Hundreds of homes have been washed away. It is very alarming.' Melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, another cause of coastal erosion. The sea level at Karachi rose almost 8 inches (almost 20 centimeters) between 1916 and 2016, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It's projected to rise another half-inch (about 1.3 centimeters) by 2040. In areas near Gwadar, like Pishukan and Ganz, waves have swallowed up mosques, schools, and settlements. There are gashes in the cliffs at the popular picnic spot of Sunset Park, and rocks have cascaded onto the shore. Beaches run flat for dozens of kilometers because no structures remain on it. Authorities have built seawalls from stone or concrete to hold back saltwater intrusion. But they're a small solution to a massive problem as Gwadar's people and businesses are fighting climate change on different fronts. Saltwater pools on government land, salt crystals glistening in the sunshine. In the Shado Band neighbourhood, former local councillor Qadir Baksh fretted about water seeping up through the ground and into his courtyard every day, held at bay only by regular pumping. Dozens of houses have the same problem, he said. Officials, including Ahmed and Rahim, said changes in land use and unauthorized building are worsening flooding. Locals said some major construction projects have destroyed traditional drainage pathways. Gwadar is the centerpiece of a massive Chinese-led initiative to create an overland route between its western Xinjiang region and the Arabian Sea through Gwadar. Hundreds of millions of dollars have poured into the town to create a deep seaport, an international airport, expressways and other infrastructure. The more sensitive projects, especially the port, are tightly secured by the Pakistani military, out of sight and off-limits to the public. But there is no proper sewage or drainage system for residents despite a decade of foreign investment, and Gwadar's porosity, high water table, rising sea levels, and heavier rainfall are rocket fuel for the town's vulnerability. There's nowhere for the water to go. 'In the past when it rained, the water disappeared up to 10 days later,' said Baksh. 'But the rain that came last year hasn't gone. The water rises from the ground with such speed it will reach the four walls of my home if we don't run the generator every day to extract it. Officials say it's because of climate change but, whatever it is, we're suffering.' Gwadar's fishing community is also hurting. Catches are smaller, native fish are disappearing, and migration patterns and fishing seasons have changed, said Ahmed and Rahim. There is also algae bloom and the invasion of unwanted marine species like pufferfish. Illegal fishing and foreign trawlers are responsible for a few of these things, but it's mostly rising sea temperatures. People have migrated from places like Dasht and Kulanch because of water scarcity. What agriculture there was in Gwadar's surrounding areas is vanishing due to loss of farmland and livestock deaths, according to locals. It's part of a wider pattern in which Pakistan's farmers are seeing declining crop yields and increasing crop diseases due to climate extremes, particularly floods, droughts and heat waves, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 'There are heat waves and dust storms in Gwadar,' said Ahmed. 'But the main impact of climate change here is that there is too much water and not enough of it. If nothing is done to address this problem, we will have no option but to retreat.' ____ Associated Press data journalist Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
