Major Relief for Gwadar: China-Funded 1.2 MGD Desalination Plant Completed to Combat Water Crisis

Islamabad:In a significant development for the water-starved residents of **Gwadar**, a **1.2 million gallons per day (MGD) desalination plant**, funded by China, has been **successfully completed** and is set to begin supplying **7 to 8 million gallons of clean drinking water** this week.

The initiative comes amid severe water shortages caused by **drought and dried-up reservoirs**, including the Ankra, Sawad, and Shadi Kaur dams. The **Government of Balochistan officially approved the purchase of water** from the new desalination facility on **July 8**.

A high-level meeting attended by **Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Noor ul Haq Baloch**, **Public Health Secretary Imran Gichki**, **Gwadar Development Authority DG Saifullah Khetran**, and **Executive Engineer Momin Baloch**, reviewed the critical situation and decided on urgent action to ensure water supply.

The **Rs. 2 billion plant**, completed with **grant funding from China**, is a joint technical collaboration between the **Gwadar Port Authority**, **NESPAK**, and **China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)**. It includes a **1-kilometer water supply line** that connects the plant to Gwadar’s main water distribution network.

Originally proposed as a **0.5 MGD facility**, the project was upgraded in July 2021 in response to Gwadar’s increasing water demand. Alongside the plant, the **Gwadar Development Authority (GDA)** has completed a **158-kilometer water pipeline** from Shadi Kaur and Sawad dams, and installed a **141-kilometer new distribution network** to deliver water to every household in the city.

According to GDA officials, all **residential areas in Gwadar**, including **Fakir Colony** and **Dhor**, which are already connected to the pipeline system, will start receiving **potable water** within this week.

This breakthrough is expected to bring **immediate relief to thousands of Gwadar residents**, ending years of reliance on water tankers and inconsistent supply, and marking a critical step toward **sustainable urban infrastructure** in the strategic port city.