Gwadar's Reality | Documentary Film | Gwadar Flood | BYC Documentary Film 2024

Love, loyalty, courage says Dawn is ours The history of our sacrifices says Dawn is ours The flow of water was so intense that I my son told me to leave the house, our houses were going to collapse. We were in water up to our heads, and one by one, we pulled each other out of the water. When our houses were filled with water, our walls started falling, and I borrowed a pumping machine. For three consecutive days, we pulled out the water. It has been eight days since my house flooded, and my fami

ly and I are living in a place with no roof, no windows, and no toilets. You can't imagine the suffering we're going through. [TTILE] On our first visit, the level of destruction was immense One can't imagine the extent of the destruction without visiting, , which was the purpose of our visit. We have visited each one of the houses, but we could not cover the entire population as Gwadar city is big. On our 10th day, we continued our survey and visits, conducting interviews along the way. To unde

rstand how people are living and what they have been thinking. On our first day visited entire Gwadar City. Which day emergency situation was declared. However, besides declaring the emergency, we didn't see the administration providing assistance. The level of destruction was so huge that thousands of people were left homeless. We visited mosques, rest houses, and schools where people were temporarily living, as their houses were lost. Then, we went to Jiwani, Sur Bandan, Palliri, and Peshokan

, where people's livelihoods were lost. People emphasised that if we were aware of this, we could have taken action to save our livelihoods. The hatchets and boats that were destroyed could have been saved. Many fishermen were at sea before the flood and lost contact with others, leaving them worried without knowing anything about them. Witnessing the level of destruction, we believed that only distributing food and declaring a so-called emergency by the government institutions could not cover

such extensive destruction. Many of the people we interviewed said that it is impossible to recover, build our house and continue our daily lives as before the flood. The only land left. I believe even a small rain here can cause a flood because there is no drainage system, no way for disaster water to flow. Even though we are surrounded by water, water must not stay here. Alas, the water did not recede from the city. During the previous flood, our condition was the same. But this one has terrif

ied us; it was non-stop. Many times, earthquakes occur along with rain, and we were terrified if it didn't happen. If it happens when our houses were wet, they will be buried underneath. The two roads, Expressway and Marine Drive, are elevated above the ground level, while the city is relatively at ground level. Previously, during the rain, water used to flow towards the sea, but now, with the construction of roads, rainwater is constrained. Water gathered in the city, and the road's water start

s flowing towards the city. People were compelled to break the roads to provide a way for floodwater to flow towards the sea. But still, houses are filled with water What issues you have been facing after flood? We don’t have anything to eat. We are miserable. How you have arranged your food before? We had to go to Pishokan, but now we can’t because we don’t have transportation available. Before the flood, our lives were the same, marked by poverty, with nothing to eat, drink, or electricity. Wh

en rain fell for two consecutive days, our house was filled with water, reaching a depth of 6 feet. We had nothing to cook and no money. My husband works for daily wages at Kutani, which has been closed for months. We had to borrow from others for food, but during the flood, we were disconnected to the city. Now, if you look at our kitchen, you'll find nothing—no food, no sugar, no flour. For bread and tea, you need flour and water, but we don’t have either of these two items. We poor Baloch liv

e our lives on tea and bread, but now we don’t have these two because of the flood. The parliamentarians gathered stocks of food, but we can only afford two loaves of bread. Our people labor every day, and at the end of the day, they bring home only 1 kg of flour. We don’t have drinking water, and there's no water supply. It has been 14 years since I got married and moved here. We have to buy a water tanker for 5,000, which is a heavy price considering that we could buy flour with that money. Wh

at do the poor do with these five thousand rupees? Do they buy rations, water, or other necessities? No one can live without water. Parliamentarians come and beg for votes, but they do nothing for us. Apart from physical destruction, they have been suffering mentally as well. None of them were mentally stable; all became victims of post-traumatic stress disorder, and all suffered from depression. A home left without any source of income, one cannot imagine the state of mind they are in. It is no

t the first time; they are the same people who were forced to vacate because the CPEC route was to pass through their area. They managed to build small homes for themselves in Gwadar city, but today these homes were also destroyed by the flood. There are many people who were affected by previous floods and had to leave their old homes, compelled to relocate to new places. However, today, their new homes were also destroyed by the flood. However, the biggest disappointment is that the people of G

wadar were not aware of what was happening to them because the rain lasted for only two days, yet the destruction that followed was immense. All of them believed that the rain itself didn't cause the destruction, but rather the water that accumulated in their houses afterward, coupled with inadequate sewerage lines, was the reason their homes were destroyed. This has left us homeless. One day, as I was passing by Suragdil ground, I noticed that they were constructing the walls of the ground. How

ever, when they dug they encountered water. It amazed me that after digging just a few feet, New Caption This made me realize that if they encountered water so easily, it suggests that in within few years , water could engulf the whole village. Once in a meeting with the GDA DG, there were fishermen, young and elderly men present. During the meeting, New Caption He denied any involvement with the old city, stating that it was not within their premises, and the people from the old city were exclu

ded. This is where people live and it's important because it's their home, New Caption However, he maintained that it was not their concern. This implies that from the beginning, the old city was not included in their plans. "It's beyond my control. I can't build because I see no support for me. Other than Allah, I have no breadwinner. We only have two meals a day. New Caption My child is upset and asks me, 'What should we do now, mother?' I replied, 'Sell the home and let's live on the streets.

There's no other option. Sell it to feed our children, and when that's gone New Caption It is not Dubai for us. It is become worse, worse than old Gwadar. One kilometer away from here is the CPEC road, which is like Dubai for foreigners. It is because of these projects that our people are suffering. For their settlements are above ground and the natural way of water is blocked. For thousands of years, people have been living here, but never has such water been stored. It is because of the CPEC

road that was built high, and today the entire Baloch nation is suffering. You can still see thousands of houses engulfed in water. And you can see people living door to door, some in the houses of their relatives, some in their neighbors’ houses, living a miserable life. Still, there is no assistance from the administration. First, they constructed the airport road high, and then the CPEC road was also constructed high, leaving no access to the sea for the indigenous people. Outsiders come and

say we have turned Gwadar into London. Gwadar is not London. Gwadar is worse than Lyari. This is how it has been portrayed For 70 years, Gwadar has been under Pakistan’s control, yet where is the sewerage system? You have made it like London, but does London lack a sewerage system? The fake mega-projects in Gwadar have never benefited the locals of Gwadar; instead, they have brought suffering to the natives. And people, both before and after these mega-projects, projects, still live their lives

on daily wages by laboring. But now, their means of livelihood have been snatched away. Those who had homes are now homeless and left with no means of sustenance. When we observe it, we realize that people living in Gwadar city and people living in different parts of Baluchistan are the same. There is no difference between them. And then, upon closer inspection, we realize that there are two different Gwadar cities: one where Pakistani actors and cricketers visit the beaches of Gwadar for photos

hoots and talk about the aesthetics of Gwadar’s cricket stadium. And today, we see them visiting the beaches, but they never cared about the main city, the houses, and the pain that these natives suffer. Over the past 10 days, the weather may have been favorable for them. They might have said that the weather in Gwadar city is fabulous. However, if we compare it to the lives of the native people of Gwadar, they are living in misery. I have seen many people and asked them if they have ever seen t

he port, the same port built in their name. They say they have never seen the port. We only see walls, we only see security forces, and we have seen nothing. I have noticed that the locals of Gwadar city have lost their daily wages. The coast was their source of income, and whenever they (Forces) want, they close it. If the coast is closed, there will be no source of income. On the other hand, illegal trawling still persists. These (Indigenous) people whose livelihoods as fishermen have been pas

sed down through generations find their means of sustenance finished, and they see themselves with nothing in their hands. Indeed, billions were invested in mega-projects in Gwadar. However, when you move a little and go to Surbandan and Pishukan, you will see no proper education setup. I have asked several people why their children don't go to school. They say that we need money to send our children to school, and we don't have enough money to do so. Our children only study until 3rd or 4th gr

ade, and after that, we send them to work. I spent my childhood in Shahi Bazar, and now when I visit it, I can't stop my tears because Shahi Bazar is nonexistent; only Karimook’s hotel remains. "A native at Karimok’s Hotel narrating a folk tale and relating it to the conditions of the people of Gwadar, saying that for more than 70 years, you (the state) have been looting our treasures and making us dependent on 5kg of flour. My house was in front of the hotel. The beach is here. I used to sit ne

ar the beach, and the whole sea was visible. Now, no one sees the beach. All sides are sealed. Now, where will you see the beach? Nothing was there. Before, we used to visit the beach and bring fish with us. Now, there is nothing. It is all sealed. That side is better than this. There is nothing this side Shahi Bazar used to be a royal place where seafarers used to gather and share their experiences. Instead of sitting on chairs, they sat on carpets. You could see Balochi tradition, with elderly

men sitting in front of shops, and the shopkeepers also sitting on the floor. Yes, it used to be a Royal Bazar. First Sarfaraz comes, then another, then another. They have made it a joke. We must recognize that this isn't our destiny but rather conspiracies orchestrated by the state. Until we, the Baloch people, unite and own our movement, each one of us will perish. These continuous policies employed by the state to formulate strategies aimed solely at the killing of the Baloch people. On one

hand, these policies violate Baloch cultural norms by intruding into our homes and forcibly disappearing our brothers. Our sisters who advocate for the release of the disappeared brothers. Are themselves subjected to enforced disappearances and branded as terrorists. The mutilated bodies of young Baloch individuals are thrown. I witness the mothers who, despite severe resource constraints, tirelessly nourish their children, prioritizing their well-being above their own. These mothers ensure th

at their children are fed before they take a morsel for themselves. Yet, it is disheartening to see the state waiting for these grown children, raised amidst such hardship, to disappear them. Our livelihood has always been intertwined with the sea, a tradition passed down from our ancestors. No warnings alerted us to the imminent flood, and when it struck, we found ourselves helpless against its force Countless boats were destroyed and submerged, resulting in devastating losses amounting to lakh

s, some even up to 40 lakhs. Restoring our former state will require time; those affected must now turn to borrowing money and seeking assistance from others. These individuals, whose boats lie destroyed with nothing left, now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. We rely on two main sources of livelihood: fishing in the sea or engaging in border trade. However, recent floods have ravaged our community, destroying homes and boats. The lack of prior warning from the state

left us unprepared to manage the situation effectively. The state's failure to provide timely information about the impending floods and heavy rains has resulted in significant losses for the local population. There are no laws or regulations in place to protect the rights of those who work at sea and engage in fishing activities. Have you experienced any benefits from the ongoing CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) projects, or have they instead exacerbated losses and suffering? So far, th

e projects implemented have only put us at a disadvantage; we have not experienced any benefits from them. For example, they cause frequent interruptions throughout our day, significantly increasing the time it takes us to reach our destinations from half an hour to a full hour. The construction of these projects does not yield any advantages for us. especially considering that their livelihoods relied heavily on boats, each of which typically costs around 30 to 35 lakhs. To secure this means of

living, they often sell all they have just to sustain a basic existence. When these boats sink and the very homes they reside in collapse, it's difficult to envision thousands of people being able to recover and resume their previous way of life. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee so far have set up six medical camps in remote areas of Gwadar providing treatment and care to numerous individuals while also gathering data on prevalent diseases. Additionally, we conducted assessments of the political a

nd social environment, compiling reports through surveys. We assessed the availability of functional schools and basic amenities for the people. Moreover, we noted a pervasive fear among the people, discouraging participation in normal activities such as political engagement, literary pursuits, and educational endeavors Essentially, social gatherings have been restricted and tightly controlled Nonetheless, I view our progress as a significant achievement as we have now entered the third phase of

our Yakjehti awareness campaign. In our initial phase, we established approximately 20 Relief camps across various regions of Balochistan. The objective was to rally support from the entire populace of Balochistan for the people of Gwadar fostering the notion that it is essential to assist our own people, our fellow nationals. We received trust and assistance from the public, resulting in tangible aid reaching the affected individuals today. In our third phase, we meticulously gathered data fro

m every corner of Gwadar to ascertain the specific needs of the populace. This data is being shared with other organizations to ensure comprehensive assistance for the people of Gwadar. However, our primary focus has been on countering the media blackout in Balochistan, particularly in highlighting a strategic location where the state machinery propagates positive narratives while indigenous people suffer and their rights are violated. To address this, we organized a seminar where local resident

s were invited to voice their concerns, drawing hundreds of attendees, including individuals from outside Gwadar such as Pasni, etc [Balochi National Anthem] I consider this to be the strength of Baloch Yakjehti Committee and a testament to the trust people place in it. Despite facing threats from the state, such as the confiscation of our tents under the pretext of NOC and intimidating tactics employed in places like Kharan, Gwadar city, Hub Chowki, and Kalat the people have remained steadfast

in their support. ‘We demonstrate, in the face of every threat, whether from the state or its machinery, that the Baloch, driven by their national identity and commitment to national resistance, will always stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow people against any adversity. This unity will endure, shaping our collective future as a nation. Prior to the floods,our movements were constantly interrupted by coast guards who would stop and inspect us. They demanded to see our National Identit

y Cards (NICs), occasionally issuing tokens, but more often resorting to physical violence In the span of just one month, over ten individuals lost their lives sometimes due to accidents, and other times at the hands of the coast guards A recent incident, which occurred less than a month ago, involved the coast guards killing a local resident who then disappeared into the sea. His body was discovered a week later Only in the Kuntani there were various types of fish, some of which i.e Prawns an

d Argyrosomus, are worth as much as ten lakhs. The abundance of fish was so immense that people grew weary from catching them. However, if you look at the sea today, you won't witness those bustling scenes anymore; it’s as if the fish population has vanished. The oil trade has been responsible for the demise of most aquatic creatures. An entire mafia is involved in this. This dire situation reflects the plight of our people. Our people are like the pawns of Chess game In the game of chess, the r

ole of a pawn is to get sacrificed. Just the other day, you may have heard about a man who lost his life in the sea that man was merely a pawn. We are hesitant to voice our opposition because we haven't yet grasped this mentally Shahid, accompanied by his neighbor and infant, rode on a motorcycle for a shopping trip Along the way, a boy beckoned him to come and see a boat. Curious, Shahid decided to take a look at the boat with his child and neighbor near the sea. Upon arrival, he engaged in con

versation with a man dressed in black who was seated in a chair. Shahid inquired if the man had summoned him The man in black instructed him to wait as he was being called by those in a nearby car. Suddenly, the car approached swiftly and forcefully seized Shahid despite the resistance of his neighbor, who tried to prevent them from taking away his brother-like neighbor. The neighbor was assaulted and left with Shahid's infant. Since then, there has been no information about Shahid's whereabouts

Gradually, there is a concerted effort to implant the idea of leaving in people's minds Various tactics are employed to coerce individuals into leaving their homes. However, it's not easy for someone to simply abandon their land and roots. Many political suppressions have occurred such as the artificial development and settlement of Gwadar up to 35 kilometers inland. These actions constitute man-made disasters, not natural disasters. Our own people are complicit in these tragedies, which is ala

rming. We too, are not exempt from imperfections. We have given birth to carrier oriented generation which have nothing to do with people and their issues For the elite Baloch man, Gwadar resembles Salalah a place disliked for its scorching heat, yet visited solely for financial Riyal (Rupees). Neither states nor individuals investing in Gwadar harbor genuine affection for the region If their intentions were truly to enhance its appeal, they would allocate funds to their own estates rather than

funneling them into the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA). Their in presence in Gwadar is solely for personal gain, here is an opportunity to earn black money. This state and its people have also traded our mutilated bodies, indicating that they do not wish for us to receive them until they have decomposed. It is an exploitative state There may have been many predecessors before me who have articulated this truth that this state exhibits no shame until it eradicates Baloch identity and Balochis

tan. Their assertions have consistently proven true Now, it is up to us to decide whether we will bear the burden of our nation and keep it alive." “If there is no land, there will be no mention of yours, There will be no dawn for your dreams, The sweets and honey will taste bland No companions, no fellows, Gwadar, yours is Gwadar, Your head must rise.” Gwadar, yours is Gwadar, Your head must rise.” Love, loyalty, courage says Dawn is ours The history of our sacrifices says Dawn is ours