HISTORY OF GWADAR
In 1783,
Oman’s Saiad Sultan took refuge in ZIK from where he went and sought asylum from
Shah Nasir of Kalat, who doled him Gwadar out for sustenance until he usurped
the Sultanate of Muscat in 1797 from his brother Saiad Said.
From 1863 to 1879 Gwadar was the headquarters of a British Assistant Political
Agent.
Gwadar was a fortnightly port of call for the British India Steamship Navigation
Company’s steamers and contained a combined Post & Telegraph Office.
Sultan was the sovereign of Gwadar until 1955 when negotiations were held during
the period of Ghulam Mohammad. A British adjudicator with Ch. Mohammad Ali
representing Pakistani side, decided that Pakistan shall pay Rs. 55 crore, which
were paid. Sultan Qaboos wanted that the same amount be returned to Pakistan for
getting Gwadar back. The Agreement had two important clauses: (1) All
Balochistan would form cachment for Omani forces. Resultantly, Balochees
constituted a major part of Omani forces, and (2) Resources of Gwadar would be
further developed.
In 1955, Makran acceded to Pakistan and was made a district - Gwadar then, was
not included in Makran.
In 1958, Gwadar and its surrounding areas were reverted by Maskat to Pakistan.
It was given the status of a Tahsil of Makran district.
On July 01, 1977, Makran District was upgraded into a division and was divided
into three districts of Turbat (now Kech since
1994-95), Panjgur and Gwadar.
Today’s Gwadar
There have been a series of developments in administrative set up of Gwadar over
the years. Present Gwadar has the following administrative break up:
Sub-divisions -2: Gwadar and Pasni; Tahsils -4: Gwadar, Jeewani, Pasni and
Ormara; and, Sub-Tahsil-1: Suntsar
Gwadar Tahsil: 215, 708 acres (including 4,943 acres of Sanghar Housing Scheme
on Koh-e-Batil and 2,500 acres of Pakistan Navy)
Area : 1,521sq.km
Population in 1994 : 30,000 souls
Population in mid 2004 : 87, 104 souls
Roads : 58 miles (metalled)
Roads : 983 shingle
Fishermen in 1999 : 36, 416 nos.
Fishing crafts in 1999 : 5,599 nos.
Fish catch volume in 1999 : 120,663 m. tons
1.
Turkmenistan - Afghanistan - Pakistan: It is a CENTGAS gas pipeline project from
Daulatabad to Gwadar via Afghanistan as the shortest possible route to Japan and
Far East.
2. Kazakhstan - Pakistan: It is an oil pipeline project, terminating at Gwadar
3. Iran-Pakistan-India:
On-shore route being studied by BHP Billiton of Australia
Deep water option being looked into by SNAMPRGETTI
Shallow water route ( 30-50 meters below sea level)
being studied by the Russian GAZPROM
Gwadar Port
Changing the
destiny of the long-deprived land
The only port for mother ships, requiring a depth of 14.7 meters
Alternate port in case of emergency
Hub port for the Middle East
Transit port for trade with Afghanistan, CIS and China
Oil refineries and large oil storages
Warehouses and cold storages
Shipping-related service industries, like Ferry service to Karachi, Oman, Bandar
Abbas, UAE, etc.
Marine-related industry
Private cargo handling equipment and trucking yards
Corporate infrastructure i.e., offices for operating firms and agencies
Construction yards
Hotels and motels
Mothering of other mega projects
Other Projects
Electric Power Supply
Gwadar International Air Port
Dry Port
Water supply
Rice Zone
Saindak Copper Gold
Trans Afghan Gas Pipe Line
Makran Coastal Highway
Mirani Dam And Canals
