Land Erosion, Fishermen's Issues and Disaster Management in District Gwadar

             

In the south western part of Balochistan, the extraordinary District Gwadar possess the longest
coast line through out Pakistan which is about 600 kilometres. Having significance, the region is
 widely known for the erosion these days. Recently, a dialogue forum took place in Gwadar through
SDPI to discuss the issues concerning the land erosion in Gwadar and the areas near to it, known
as Sur Bandan, Ganz, Pinshkan and so on. Issues that rose by the construction of Gwadar Port
and the issues that the fishermen are facing afterwards, as well as the management of the local
resources regarding disasters were discussed.


The place where the sea port of Gwadar has been constructed,
once was home to the fishermen population belonging to Gwadar.
 The waves from the sea used to break to the southern part of
Gwadar which belongs to the port these days. The port has
 been constructed as deep that the waves can't break to this
area anymore so the high pressurised waves travel to  to the
northern area known as Sur Banden, which is the hub to the land
 erosion in Gwadar since 2010.
Homes,schools, mosques and a lot more have broken
down due to the intense high pressurised waves.Similarly,
 Ganz a little harbour town of the district is in serious regard
of erosion as well as tsunamiand other coastal hazards. The
 biggest need for the people of the area is a buffer zone and
 exit path that could lead to the buffer zone.

Now, the biggest concern is this that there isn't any specialised early warning system in the whole
district for the people to get warned before any disaster erupts.  Conclusively, most little towns in
the district need buffer zones where the people would stay during any coastal hazard and specifically
exit paths. The little town Ganz is surrounded with hills which makes it tough for the people to get
out of their place in case of an emergency. They either want their whole town to be shifted in a higher concentrated place or a buffer zone and exit paths.

         
Similarly Gwadar city as a peninsula, is surrounded with Arabian sea from the three sides. It's location makes it hard to be safe, so early warning system, buffer zone

and exit paths are essentially need here too. Recently
 built stairs which lead to the top of the hill, are not built
 to be helpful for the people during any emergency because
of their narrowness and made with clay which make it
 slippery in rain. These stairs can even be responsible for
 more deaths than hazard itself.

Conclusively, fisheries is the most important economic activity in Gwadar district in which
 a vast majority of the population is engaged.
 The district's long coast line provides the
residents not only the means of income but
also the food to subsist. About one fourth of
the total catch in Pakistan is produced in the
 district. Because of the high waves in the
west bay, the disaster management has
made a protection wall. It makes it impossible
 for the fishermen to catch fish in the east bay because there isn't any facility of ecological
corridor where they could make their boats
stand. Because of not having this facility numerous fisher men's boats that were anchored down the protection wall, have been broken by the waves coming from the sea.

As natural disaster don't allow anybody know before erupting, the disaster management of the
district  and the government should commence now their attempts for sustenance of the district.
It should provide buffer zones, exit paths and early waring system in all towns and villages of the
district that are in serious concern of coastal hazards.