In a previous post on Gwadar, I wrote against it's expansion mainly due to environmental dangers and increase in ethnic/political conflicts.
But seeing the unique location of Gwadar on a sparsely populated paradise-like area on the sea, free of industrialization and pollution unlike much of Pakistan, the town could actually turn into a successful tourist resort like the Northern Areas of Pakistan as well as like parts of the Kashmir province.
Much like the Gwadar seaport, the towns of the Northern Areas and Kashmir province still have plenty of nature which are typical tourist attractions. Prior to the arrival of militancy in the Swat region, the area was also a tourist attraction not just because of nature, but also for providing availability in sports activities.
Gwadar being on a sea coast and not filled with bustling waters, but rather clean and safe waters to swim in could provide excellent water sports for tourists. But at the same time we must be careful from creating a tourism industry which turns into unsustainable tourism and actually damages the local environment and biodiversity.
Gwadar with it's sunshine and mild temperatures during winter would provide an excellent getaway for European tourists seeking to escape the cold.
Gwadar should be connected to Europe via Karachi and Muscat. When I oppose the expansion and industrialization of Gwadar, I also oppose the expansion of the airport to accommodate wide-body planes which will increase noise and disturb the town's peaceful nature not to mention an increase in air pollution.
Turning the town into a tourists resort is the best alternate to turning it into a busy hustling port city that may as well end up like Karachi.
Karachi once upon a time:
Karachi today:
Gwadar today:
Gwadar in the future:
This is why I feel we Pakistanis must abandon our senseless ambitions of urban expansion and industrialization. Instead we must show more concern for our environment before we are destroyed by our own carelessness along with our country. We must control and reduce our growing population before we get destroyed. Our survival as living beings depends on the survival of our ecosystem. Gwadar must not become another seaport like Karachi.
Gwadar instead should follow the role of Pakistan's Northern Areas and become a successful tourist resort.
But seeing the unique location of Gwadar on a sparsely populated paradise-like area on the sea, free of industrialization and pollution unlike much of Pakistan, the town could actually turn into a successful tourist resort like the Northern Areas of Pakistan as well as like parts of the Kashmir province.
Much like the Gwadar seaport, the towns of the Northern Areas and Kashmir province still have plenty of nature which are typical tourist attractions. Prior to the arrival of militancy in the Swat region, the area was also a tourist attraction not just because of nature, but also for providing availability in sports activities.
Gwadar being on a sea coast and not filled with bustling waters, but rather clean and safe waters to swim in could provide excellent water sports for tourists. But at the same time we must be careful from creating a tourism industry which turns into unsustainable tourism and actually damages the local environment and biodiversity.
Gwadar with it's sunshine and mild temperatures during winter would provide an excellent getaway for European tourists seeking to escape the cold.
Gwadar should be connected to Europe via Karachi and Muscat. When I oppose the expansion and industrialization of Gwadar, I also oppose the expansion of the airport to accommodate wide-body planes which will increase noise and disturb the town's peaceful nature not to mention an increase in air pollution.
Turning the town into a tourists resort is the best alternate to turning it into a busy hustling port city that may as well end up like Karachi.
Karachi once upon a time:
Karachi today:
Gwadar today:
Gwadar in the future:
This is why I feel we Pakistanis must abandon our senseless ambitions of urban expansion and industrialization. Instead we must show more concern for our environment before we are destroyed by our own carelessness along with our country. We must control and reduce our growing population before we get destroyed. Our survival as living beings depends on the survival of our ecosystem. Gwadar must not become another seaport like Karachi.
Gwadar instead should follow the role of Pakistan's Northern Areas and become a successful tourist resort.
