High-level panel set up to resolve Gwadar’s utility shortages
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of a 13-member high-level committee to tackle Gwadar’s persistent electricity outages and severe water shortages, following increasing public pressure. The committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Friday.
The panel has been tasked with urgently proposing a short-term plan within four to five days to ensure uninterrupted water supply through the 7.5 million gallons per day (MGD) scheme and the 1.2 MGD seawater desalination plant. The immediate focus is on delivering quick relief to residents facing long-standing hardships.
In addition to this urgent plan, the committee must also prepare a medium-term strategy within four to five months, guaranteeing sustainable electricity and water supply for Gwadar. To ensure accountability, the directive includes assigning clear roles and deadlines to ministries and implementing agencies.
The committee comprises senior leaders, including Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, federal ministers of Maritime Affairs and Energy, and secretaries from the Planning, Power, and Maritime divisions. Also part of the body are the Chief Secretary of Balochistan, heads of the Gwadar Port Authority, Gwadar Development Authority, and Quetta Electric Supply Company. Technical expertise will be provided by former Sky Electric CEO Ameen Sukhaira.
Gwadar, despite its strategic importance under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), continues to face recurring blackouts and acute water shortages. These issues have triggered public protests and raised concerns over the city’s capacity to sustain future development projects and its overall livability.