Gwadar’s People Disappointed For Not Receiving Benefit

Islamabad

Pakistan's port town of Gwadar, which is acclaimed as the heart of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is seen as crucial for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Balochistan's local population, however, feels that it has not been receiving the benefits that the status bestows on Gwadar, writes Nadia Abdel for source.
The people of Gwadar remain deprived of clean drinking water and other basic facilities. Gwadar despite being the centre of economic development, did not change the fate of its people, writes Abdel.
Local people are frustrated over not being part of the local development projects in Gwadar, which are mostly managed by the Chinese or officials from other provinces of Pakistan, wrote Abdel for source.
There have been several protests in Gwadar by the Haq Do Tehreek. They put forth various demands such as banning of illegal trawlers in Balochistan's waters, a reduction of security checkpoints, as well as liberalization of trade with neighboring Iran.
The protests were led by Baloch leader Maulana Hidayat Rehman who has emerged as a popular face of resistance among the masses. The demonstrators recently blocked the main airport road and the road leading to the port. They also asked the Chinese to leave the airport.