GWADAR is the regional hub of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; however, for the last few years, it has been facing lots of problems owing to the acute shortage of water.

With a population of 263,514, it still has no access to clean drinking water and residents are compelled to buy water, which is costly. Those who cannot afford to purchase water are compelled to walk a long way to carry buckets and jars full of water to their houses.

Besides the government has failed to supply water via desalination plants.

This is surprising, because more than 120 countries of the world operate desalination plants by using seawater.

I request Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Balochistan government and the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed that, instead of other developments, their first priority should be to provide the basic needs to the inhabitants of Gwadar by setting up a desalination plant.

Faisal Ahmed
Hirronk Kech, Balochistan

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2019