GWADAR: In a significant move to tackle the ongoing water shortage, a high-level meeting was held in Gwadar today under the chairmanship of MPA Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman. The meeting, which brought together senior officials and local representatives, resulted in several crucial decisions aimed at ensuring a stable water supply for the city’s residents .
To immediately alleviate the crisis, the government will increase the number of water tankers operating from Mirani Dam . Recognizing financial hurdles, the meeting agreed to recommend an increase in the official water tanker rates to the provincial government. This measure is designed to encourage more tanker owners to participate in the supply operation and ensure its continuity .
A major decision was made to prioritize the public’s water needs. The meeting decided that commercial consumers and various government agencies must now arrange and fund their own water tankers. This will reserve all water supplied from public sources exclusively for general public consumption, ensuring a fairer distribution during the shortage .
To guarantee transparency and order in the water distribution process, staff from the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department will now be physically present during water supply in various areas. They will work alongside local area councilors to ensure every household receives its fair share of water .
Addressing the concerns of tanker owners directly, officials pledged to ensure regular fortnightly payments for their services without any delays or illegal commissions. This agreement was reached during a separate meeting between a delegation of tanker owners and officials, including MPA Hidayat ur Rehman and DG GDA Moin-ur-Rehman Khan .
The relief efforts will also extend to the surrounding areas, with a decision to start tanker-based water supply for Jiwani and its surroundings, which will be arranged by the PHE department .
Currently, Gwadar is receiving partial water supply from a combination of sources: the recently restored pipeline from Shadi Kaur Dam, tankers from Mirani Dam, and the GPA’s water desalination plant serving the old town areas . Authorities expressed hope that with the implementation of these new measures, the water crisis will be overcome in the coming days.
Also read: Gwadar fixes water tanker prices to address crisis
