A vacation in Balochistan

The clear waters of Gwadar and the world class highway to access it makes this place a very attractive tourist spot.

Eckova October 09, 2011
Anyone beholding the beauty of the Balochistan coast cannot help but be struck by it. This video is a visual tour of all the work being done by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands to regenerate a coastal region that was once dead.

A world class highway stretches for 800 kilometres and gives one the opportunity to view the sandy beaches, clear blue waters and the spectacular coastal ranges.  This is the perfect opportunity for eco-tourism, as it promotes the welfare of the locals, and encourages responsible travel.

Vast mangrove plantations have been set up, enabled by the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department and the Gwadar Development Authority. These have served to protect the coast as a natural barrier and sand dunes have been stabilized. The return of the mangroves, in fact, has led to vibrant wildlife, and crabs, shrimp, mud skippers and many species of fish have emerged in the once lifeless land. Birds, too, have migrated to the coast, making this a fine location for bird-watching. Moreover, the clear waters offer an excellent outlet for water sports.

Thus, Gwadar has developed in to a very attractive tourist spot, and can be accessed by road or air.

This video originally appeared here.

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WRITTEN BY:
Eckova A production house at the forefront of tackling important issues that reveal the many dimensions of the intricate relationship between cultures.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (16)

Baloch | 12 years ago | Reply Zindag enth Balochistan, man Ohd o kasam paimaan kanan Azaad Balochistan aa kanan. O my motherland I swear I will make you free someday. I am the son of soil though I cannot enjoy your beauty, How can i enjoy the vacations near sea side when my brothers are shedding their blood for your integrity.. We welcome international people across the globe to experience the beauty of Balochistan once we get our independence.. Thanks :)
sohail osman ali | 12 years ago | Reply A good introduction to the work being done by IUCN with the local Baluch community to grow mangroves, including re-introduction of species that have disappeared due to their use for firewood. I hope the Baluchistan environment and coastal communities do not suffer the same fate as their brothers in the coastal communities of Sindh. Here, indigenous fishing communities are losing traditional fishing grounds and landing places which are being taken over forcibly by the Navy for eventually building housing estates, commercial complexes etc. I hope land mafia don't eye this Baluchistan coastal belt and start destroying the mangroves in the name of development, like has gone on in Sindh- Ibrahim Hyderi Bundel island, mangrove forests in Sandspit. At Kakapir village in Sandspit, 2 members of the fishing community who were trying to save the mangrove forests were murdered- Abdul Ghani and Haji Abu Bakkar. Ironically, these murders took place in 2011, which UN has declared the "International year of forests"
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