Bugti Takes Action to Address Gwadar’s Water Crisis
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has launched urgent measures to combat the severe water shortage in the Gwadar district. This crisis has worsened due to prolonged drought and insufficient rainfall. In a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta, Bugti stressed the need for both immediate relief and sustainable solutions.
Key Officials Attend High-Level Meeting
The meeting was attended by Gwadar MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Zahid Saleem, Secretary Finance Imran Zarkoon, and senior officials from Gwadar Port Authority and Development Authority. Discussions focused on speeding up water supply projects, optimising resources, and improving coordination to ease the water scarcity.
Desalination Plant Capacity Increasing
Officials reported that the Gwadar Port Authority’s desalination plant had been functioning below capacity due to electricity shortages. However, its output is now rising to 300,000 gallons per day, with plans to double this to 600,000 gallons within three days. Furthermore, a larger China-funded desalination plant producing 1.2 million gallons daily has begun supplying water to local residents. To mitigate power disruptions, alternative energy sources will be employed to keep the plants running continuously.
Accelerated Pipeline Projects from Shadi Kaur Dam
Chief Minister Bugti emphasised the importance of expediting pipeline projects bringing water from the Shadi Kaur Dam. He directed all responsible departments to complete these projects within 15 days. Bugti described access to clean water as a basic human necessity, warning that any delay or negligence would be unacceptable. To ensure accountability, a coordination committee led by the Gwadar Port Authority chairman will submit daily progress reports to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Addressing Power Outages Affecting Water Supply
The ongoing power outages in the region, mainly due to disrupted electricity imports from Iran, remain a serious concern. Bugti announced plans to raise this issue with the Prime Minister and the Power Division to find long-term solutions for the unannounced and prolonged outages.
Commitment to Resolving Gwadar’s Water Crisis
The Balochistan government is committed to providing timely relief and ensuring the swift completion of all water-related development projects. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti affirmed that he will personally monitor progress until the water shortage in Gwadar is fully resolved.
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