Qamber Ali
In the wake of the current flashing news of the fencing Gwadar, let me start over articulating discourses for sustainability. This depends on the greater good of possibilities. With the tendency to formulate a basic approach for the people of Gwadar, authorities must correspond to the following assumptions; social developmental growth, transformation, and transparency for outcomes assumed by the port city project. It is satisfactory to avoid multiple opinions but, multi-lateral, ambitious, long-standing goals are possible only by encompassing the terms of the general mass of the people. Otherwise, peace and stability are paradoxical.
Faithfully speaking, the residents of Gwadar are not facilitated for their basic needs of livelihood. Neither they are consciously aware of the outcomes of the CPEC initiative and its drawbacks. Whether the project proves its outcomes, is only an optimistic reality. Provision of gas facilities and water is far an illusion experienced by the people of the province. Though, it is illegitimate not to focus on their needs and resources. They are part of the land. It is their legal, and constitutional right for their demands.
Firstly, is our government prepared to transform the needs of the general masses?
Secondly, On a broader stance, what remains for framing a strategy for presenting a good political map in between various chaos?
Gwadar town has a population of 90,762 and an area of 12,637 sq km according to the 2017 census. It is not rocket science to assume that the development of the people depends on social developmental growth. It is inadequate and incompetent in the port city. Hospitals, schools, and universities were built to offer facilities to its people. However, it is just a solution to fight the symptoms rather than fighting the cure. The residents were not availing of the opportunities in these setups. If there were, they were on a very low scale. Only a small amount of people can’t make it possible to understand the outcomes and opportunities of the Corridor. Inclusion of the people of the port city is the only possibility that is credible by transparency. Transparency, in this subject, is the Transformation of society. It is by the transformation of the society from incompetency to proficiency that manifests the role of the people of the city. As such, the inclusion of residents of Gwadar in various developmental projects and job opportunities is not prioritized by the government. So for this, the populace of the port city is unwilling to accept the outcomes of the projects. In their terms, it is possible by transparency with regard to the demands of the general mass.
Alternatively, an insufficient amount of students are nominated for scholarships which would drive narratives of the local residents. People of Balochistan and particularly Gwadar are less making the most of the opportunities. More probably, it is the foreign scholarships for Area studies. Empowering students of the port province prepare them for the long-term plans of the CPEC.
In addition, the livelihood of the coastal areas depends on seafood for their existence. Fishing is the paramount livelihood of the area. The fishermen problem has been a crucial complication and endures a debate in the provincial government. They are waiting for a permanent solution for the issue which is still a debate on the table.
Ultimately, Gwadar is the oyster and one of the most important strategic locations on the geopolitical map. A long-term plan must include visions of greater political and economic interests with multiple goals. The deep seaport is the interests of major stakeholders. Understanding the demands of the home carry the Possibility of multi-lateral interests.
The writer belongs to Turbat and is a Student of Political Science at GCU Lahore. He tweets at @qambibaloch.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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