Residents and workers in Balochistan’s coastal district of Gwadar said on Thursday that Pakistani forces burned makeshift depots during an operation in the Kuntani area of Jiwani tehsil, destroying livelihoods and leaving dozens of families without income.
Those affected said the sites were used by people involved in the informal oil trade, which provides work for thousands of residents from across the Makran coast.
They said temporary shelters, storage depots and equipment along the shoreline were set on fire during the operation, resulting in significant financial losses.
One worker told The Balochistan Post that Coast Guard personnel had previously confiscated vehicles or taken money from workers, but said this time the depots were “reduced to ashes”.
Residents said many families in the area depend on oil transportation and related work for survival, and that the loss of equipment and storage facilities had pushed them into severe economic hardship.
Some residents also criticized local lawmaker Hidayat-ur-Rehman, saying he had supported the workers before taking office but had “remained silent” since entering the assembly.
Affected families called for compensation and assistance, saying they had been left unable to meet basic needs.