Gwadar and Lasbela Finalise 40 Union Council Development Plans

Gwadar and Lasbela councils launch five-year roadmaps for resilience and growth

P.c. Gwadar Port Authority

Gwadar and Lasbela Finalise 40 Union Council Development Plans


Forty union councils across Gwadar and Lasbela districts have completed their five-year Union Council Development Plans (UCDPs), formally presented to the provincial government under the Gwadar Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project (GLLSP-II). The initiative is jointly financed by the Government of Pakistan and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

These plans were created through extensive community consultations, government collaboration, and private sector involvement. They outline focused actions to address local priorities, mobilise resources, and enhance self-reliance in rural areas. Implementation and monitoring will be led by the Local Government and Rural Development Department along with the Policy and Development Department.

P.c. Gwadar Port Authority

Local Government Secretary Abdul Rauf Baloch commended IFAD and the GLLSP-II team for their technical and financial assistance, stressing that the government will ensure allocation of resources to deliver on community needs. He called for similar development roadmaps to be introduced across all rural union councils in Balochistan.

IFAD Country Director for Pakistan, Fernanda Thomaz da Rocha, described the UCDPs as “a milestone in demonstrating what is possible when government and communities align behind a shared vision”. She highlighted that the project amplifies rural voices and equips communities with tools to build sustainable opportunities.

Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Durra Baloch praised the initiative as a community-driven model that directly responds to local needs, while programme specialist Asif Lehri explained that GLLSP-II, with support from the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), is focused on poverty reduction through grassroots planning and improved local governance.

For the first time in Balochistan, government agencies and public stakeholders have worked jointly on rural development planning and execution. The second phase of GLLSP-II will span six years, reaching over 100,000 households in 40 union councils of Gwadar and Lasbela, ensuring resilience, empowerment, and hope for generations to come.