Port of dreams, port of thirst

While the rest of Pakistan’s major cities and most rural areas were inundated by monsoon rains, a group of children stood hand in hand, chanting in unison at Gwadar’s New Tobagh Ward, close to Koh-a-Bun Ward: “Pani do, bijli do, warna kursi chor do.” (Give us water, give us electricity, or vacate the seat.)

As Gwadar and its surrounding villages and towns confront an escalating water crisis, protests and chants of this slogan have become common across the city. Just a day later, another group of women and children from Assa Ward and Lal Baksh Ward blocked the iconic Marine Drive, demanding water. A similar protest was held at Shaheed Lala Hameed Chowk, led byMaulana Hidayatur Rehman.

The port city is often showcased as the linchpin of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, envisioned as a fut