A seminar was held at the Gwadar Press Club to discuss the recent torrential rains, their devastation, and the performance of the responsible authorities, highlighted the dire situation in Gwadar following devastating storms.
Speakers at the seminar said that this year’s storm brought 377 millimeters of rainfall, with subsequent torrential rains adding another 144 millimeters. These severe weather events have disrupted urban life and damaged infrastructure in the region.
Despite Gwadar being declared a disaster zone, the speakers pointed out that the populace has received little to no relief. They criticized the district administration, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA), and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) for their inaction. Most areas of the city are still contending with standing rainwater, and there has been no substantial effort to address the damage or assist the affected populations.
The seminar also highlighted the rapid environmental changes affecting Gwadar, exacerbated by its geographic location surrounded by the sea on three sides. The GDA, GPA, and other authorities were criticized for poor planning and lack of foresight in managing urban development and natural disaster preparedness. The GPA, in particular, was criticized for constructing an expressway without considering natural sewage passageways, further compounding the city’s vulnerabilities.
Speakers noted that although the GDA has been allocated seven billion rupees for the development of Gwadar Port City, there appears to be a significant gap between the funds available and their effective utilization for public welfare and infrastructure resilience.
They emphasized the urgent need for emergency-based planning considering the environmental changes. Institutions need to focus on improving their planning efforts. They said that the mutual assistance among residents during the recent torrential rains was exemplary, with everyone contributing.
The Municipal Committee, despite being constrained by limited resources, has been somewhat effective in managing water runoff and draining rainwater. However, the overall performance of other local institutions has been inadequate. The speakers stressed the need for continued collaboration to save the city and better serve the public in the future.