Subheadline:
Two-phase plan includes immediate tanker deliveries and a permanent pipeline with expanded desalination facilities
Islamabad / Gwadar (Special Report):
In a major move to address Gwadar’s prolonged water shortage, officials and community leaders have approved plans to build a direct pipeline from Mirani Dam and expand desalination facilities, while increasing tanker deliveries as an immediate relief measure.
The decision came during a high-level meeting at the RCD Council Hall, chaired by MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, according to Gwadar Pro.
Senior officials attending included Gwadar Port Authority Chairman and Water Coordinator Noor-ul-Haq Baloch, Gwadar Development Authority Director General Moin-ur-Rehman Khan, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr. Abdul Shakoor Khan, along with representatives from political parties and civic groups.
A statement from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office said participants unanimously supported a two-phase plan:
Phase 1: Increase water deliveries from Mirani Dam through tankers.
Phase 2: Construct a dedicated pipeline to link Gwadar directly to the dam.
Gwadar is experiencing an acute water crisis, entering its second year without significant rainfall. Local reservoirs, including Ankara and Sawad Dams, are nearly dry. The Shadi Kaur Dam pipeline, reactivated last month, is still operating below full capacity.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti instructed the Gwadar Port Authority to supervise immediate water deliveries from Mirani Dam and ensure transparency in tanker operations. The Gwadar Development Authority later invited bids from private tanker operators and established an emergency supply system to stabilize distribution.
MPA Hidayatur Rehman noted that a feasibility study for the Mirani–Gwadar pipeline is already underway and that he had submitted a resolution in the provincial assembly to expedite the project.
Officials emphasized that tanker operations will continue under provincial oversight until the permanent pipeline and desalination upgrades are completed.
Participants described the pipeline project and expanded desalination facilities as critical to ending Gwadar’s recurring water shortages and ensuring a reliable water supply for the city’s growing population.
