By Yasir Habib Khan

 

GWADAR, Dec 19 (Gwadar Pro) - Gwadar is going green with a quantum leap from barrenness to vegetation in a span of five years (2016-2021), a milestone spectacle for regional and international critiques who mostly paint a gloomy picture about Gwadar and Gwadar Port. Fact-check is in sight for all who believe in reality instead of smoke and mirrors. 

 

The stepping stone infuses the tangible sense that Gwadar green development is taking the roots seamlessly and gradually. Undoubtedly local people, earlier, deprived of even iota of greenery five years back, now are becoming the beneficiary of greener life since Gwadar port came under the preview of CPEC allowing Chinese companies and the Pakistani government to make things happen for the greener life for residents of Gwadar.

 

Many green projects have been producing marvellous results. These projects include Pak-China Friendship Green Park, GDA central Park, GDA new town family Park, Sunset Park, Gwadar Port Free Zone Nursery, tissue culture Lab and intelligent greenhouse in free zone area. Under the agriculture eco-system, projects regarding Aloe Vera plantation and Juncao, a name for fungi-breeding herbaceous plants, also known as the “Magic Grass are the new addition. City arteries, small and big, are blooming with the plantation drive mostly on dedicated road dividers. Marine Drive and Syed Hashmi Avenue (Old Airport), Shaheed Capt Road, Pak-China Friendship Road and many other internal roads even pathways insides housing societies have been wearing a greener look.

 

Plantation is also visible in China-Pakistan Faqeer Middle School, GDA higher secondary school, Behria Model Schools, Army Public Schools, Allama Iqbal Open University campus, Girls Degree College, Boys Degree College, National University of Modern Language (NUML) camps, Gwadar Information Technology (GIT), Gwadar University, DC office, Governor House and GDA hospitals. 

 

“Under green urbanisation vision upholding the high spirit of “Gwadar Master Plan”, Gwadar life with sapling and plants is now the order of the day.  Trees, plants and parks are the new scenes. Leafs, flowers and shrubs spell green extravaganza inside Gwadar Port as well as the city limits,” said local leader Noor Baloch.

 

Credit goes to China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) for nurturing a green culture that is up and running in a befitting manner.

 

It is just beginning marking the journey from utter desolation to at least a head-starter to green life in phases. Still, a vast land is yet to be brought under vegetative cover by establishing the system of afforestation and reforestation, controlling desertification and developing severe weather-resistant cultivable lands.

 

COPHC chairman Zhang Baozhong told Gwadar Pro that earlier there was no sign of greenery in Gwadar. “Local people used to see only swathes of barrenness. Treeless lands would rule the supreme. Given the harsh climate and water dearth, soil salinization was deeply rampant causing unsuitability for plants and trees to sprout,” he added.

 

“We took the plantation work as a mission and it is a matter of great jubilation that desired results of our arduousness are making everybody sit and take notice,” he said.

 

GPA chairman Naseer Ahmed Kashani said that Green Gwadar is aligned with PM Imran Khan flagship Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation (TBTTP) programme and his vision of Clean Green Pakistan.

 

Green Development has also caused the birth of the profession of gardening for local people. Many indigenous people have been opting for the new occupation for their livelihood and it is fortunate that they have been earning well.

 

Muhammad Younas, a gardener in Gwadar Port Free Zone Nursery, said that first he learned as a helper how to look after sapling professionally. “Now I am working as a trained gardener. My income has been elevated offering me to lead a good life financially,” he added. 

 

Niamat Ullah, who worked on Marine Drive as a worker for plantation drive, said that gardening professional has a good scope in Gwadar. “Most of the development activities have made plantation as part and parcel of their projects. During tree plantation drive and even later for maintenance, we have a job showing heartening prospects for a new profession,” he highlighted.