In the wake of successful talks with Islamabad, the sit-in in Gwadar which had been going strong for a month finished on Thursday.
Thousands of people across age, gender and class lines participated in the protest including women, children and fisherfolk for voicing their demands.
The protesters were demanding an end to interference from giant fishing vessels and provision of health and potable water. The Balochistan Minister for Planning and Development tweeted to verify the conclusion of the Gwadar protest, declaring that the agreement with the protesters had been successful.
Furthermore, he said that the negotiations happened with the chief minister of the province in attendance and all the demands of the protesters had been agreed to.
Afterwards, the chief minister announced to the protesters by arriving at the protest venue that their demands had been agreed to. Talking to the protesters, he stated that unlawful fishing had been totally outlawed and instructions had been given to the related departments. He added that the demands were bona fide. And facilitating the people of Gwadar with basic needs and development was among the top preferences.
Before that, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar visited Gwadar as instructed by the Prime Minister accompanied by Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal and CPEC chief Khalid Mansoor. Following a meeting presided over by the Balochistan Chief Minister while addressing the media, Umar stated that he had thought that the sit-in would conclude maximum in a couple of days. The meeting made an overview of development projects in Gwadar.
Umar tweeted that the meeting was comprehensive and the citizens of Gwadar will see the effect of the projects on their everyday lives. He maintained that Islamabad was sincere in facilitating the people of Gwadar.
Furthermore, he stated that Islamabad will ask representatives from Pakistan’s Central Bank to visit Gwadar so that Gwadar youth can be facilitated in the Kamyab Jawan programme. About education, he stated that a sub-campus had been promoted to university status together with the assignation of a vice-chancellor, with instructions to the officers to increase the pace of work on the university. He added that a skill development institute for the youth had been established as well with Chinese assistance, and it had been decided to make it functional shortly.
The prime minister had declared on Sunday that he had noted the demands of the people of Gwadar, especially the interference of large fishing vessels and he would take concrete measures against unlawful fishing there.
