GWADAR: In a decisive move to tackle the chronic utility shortages hindering Gwadar’s development, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has ordered all relevant institutions to implement a unified strategy for ensuring a continuous and reliable water supply to the port city.
The directive came during a high-level meeting chaired by the minister in Gwadar, convened specifically to address the city’s pressing water and electricity issues. Officials, including the Director General of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) who joined via video link, reviewed ongoing and proposed projects aimed at resolving the infrastructural deficits.
Briefing the minister, authorities reported that Gwadar currently receives about 3 million gallons of water daily from a combination of sources: the Federal Minister for Planning, Development,, and a desalination plant. While work to strengthen the distribution network is already in progress, Minister Iqbal emphasized the need for enhanced inter-agency coordination to eliminate gaps and ensure sustainability in water provision.
On the power front, the meeting evaluated concrete proposals for establishing a solar power plant in Gwadar. This initiative is seen as a critical step toward providing reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity to both domestic and industrial consumers, reducing dependence on unstable grid supply.
“Gwadar is Pakistan’s future economic hub,” stated Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, underscoring the national importance of the city. “The uninterrupted provision of water and electricity is not just a local necessity but fundamental for national development and attracting investment.” He assured that the federal government is committed to allocating all possible resources to resolve these foundational challenges, signaling a renewed top-level focus on fulfilling Gwadar’s potential as a cornerstone of regional connectivity and economic growth.
The minister’s personal chairmanship of the meeting in Gwadar itself highlights the urgency the government attaches to transforming the port city into a fully functional and livable metropolitan center.
