Gwadar Sit-in Continues as Protesters Demand Border Reopening with Iran

Normal life in Gwadar remains severely disrupted as workers and supporters of the All Parties Alliance continue their sit-in at Marine Drive for over a week.

Gwadar: Workers and supporters of the All Parties Alliance continued their sit-in at Marine Drive for over a week, disrupting normal life in the city and demanding the reopening of the border with Iran for trade in oil and other commodities.

The protest leaders highlighted the critical importance of border trade for Gwadar’s residents, many of whom have lost their jobs due to the prolonged closure. They strongly criticised the introduction of a token system at the Kantani Hor border, which they described as a major barrier to trade that has worsened unemployment in the region.

Emphasising the urgent need for a solution, the protesters called for the immediate abolition of the token system and the resumption of unrestricted trade along the border.

During the sit-in, protest leaders also drew attention to the dire state of basic services in Gwadar, a city that plays a pivotal role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. They expressed outrage over the lack of electricity and drinking water, describing the situation as a grave injustice to the local population.

In a concerning development, the protesters also accused the Pakistan Coast Guard of blocking oil trade vehicles owned by residents at the Talaar checkpoint, leaving them stranded on highways for weeks. They highlighted that such restrictions are severely worsening the economic and social conditions in the area, pushing many into extreme hardship.

National Party central leader Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch visited the sit-in to express solidarity with the protesters and strongly criticised government policies for depriving the people of the Makran division — comprising Turbat, Gwadar, Panjgur and other areas — of their livelihoods.

He accused the authorities of creating a financial crisis by imposing restrictions on border trade and limiting the movement of goods and vehicles.

“Restrictions on trade with Iran have plunged the region into economic turmoil,” Mr Baloch said, adding that loaded vehicles from Panjgur were not being allowed to enter Turbat and Gwadar. He called on the government to reopen the border and lift restrictions on trade, enabling locals to resume earning a livelihood.

Mr Baloch urged all political parties and citizens to support the demands of the All Parties Alliance and join the sit-in.

The protesters remained steadfast in their resolve, vowing to continue their sit-in until their demands are met, including the reopening of the border with Iran, the removal of the token system and solutions to Gwadar’s chronic issues of electricity shortages and lack of drinking water.