The Costal Courier

CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor): A $46 billion project connecting Pakistan's Gwadar with China's Kashgar. On a bustling street of the Jannat Market in Gwadar, is a long line of shops selling locally made Gwadari sweets and imported food items from Iran, with women and men queuing up to buy them in bulk. The shop owner ,Ramzan Baloch, doesn’t sense anything beneficial because his life has been the same since China and Pakistan signed the CPEC project. “Nothing is changed. I own the same old shop and ride the same old bike,” he says.” The only difference now is that you come across Chinese people—whom we had not seen in real life but in movies only." Gwadar, commonly hailed as the ‘Crown jewel’ of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the tendency to be the next Dubai. Having a deep-water seaport, as envisioned, this would not only create jobs for the people of Pakistan but also help China to have a stronghold over the major trade routes and waterways of

It was December 2022, and the snow-capped mountains of Quetta signalled the arrival of the winter season. In the heart of this picturesque landscape, Qamber Bugti, a 34-year-old engineering graduate from Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), found himself yearning for a new chapter in his life. He had toiled as a part-time rickshaw driver in the city, ferrying passengers to and fro, a humble source of income. Now, as he looked at his sold rickshaw, Bugti was at a crossroads. He desired to permanently depart from Balochistan, seeking new opportunities and a brighter future elsewhere. With his aspirations and dreams in mind, he reached out to his cousin in Bahrain, earnestly requesting assistance in obtaining a work visa. This decision marked the beginning of a significant journey, one that held the promise of a fresh start and the hope for a more prosperous tomorrow. " I would toil at the ungodly hours of night to make so much money. I

Volunteers distributing ration in Gwadar  Kareem Baksh Sohrabi was in Jannat Bazaar, a bustling hub in the coastal region of Gwadar, when the rain started pouring down. Seeking shelter from the downpour, he took refuge in a nearby shop, hoping the rain would soon pass. But it didn't. It kept raining relentlessly, and soon, the entire bazaar was submerged in water. After waiting for hours, Kareem finally made his way home through the flooded streets. Upon reaching home, he received the devastating news – his beloved boat, his sole source of income, had been destroyed in the Sur Bandar area of the city where it was docked. The weight of the news hit Kareem hard. His boat was not just a means of livelihood; it was a symbol of his hard work and dedication. With his livelihood now in ruins, Kareem faced an uncertain future.  Kareem Baksh Sohrabi wasn't the only one facing the wrath of the recent rain and floods in Gwadar. Throughout the city, boats were broken, shops were swep

Baloch Raji Muchi in Gwadar, Balochistan  Shari Baloch, an 18-year-old second-year student at the Government Intermediate College, Tump and a member of the BYC( Baloch Yakjehti Committee) Tump zone, was resolute in her determination to attend the Baloch Raji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering) scheduled for July 28th in Gwadar. Together with others from the Tump Tehsil of Turbat district in Southern Balochistan, Shari and other BYC members began collecting donations to hire two Zamyads for transportation to the gathering. Despite a notice from the district administration the previous day, warning against offering moral or financial support to anyone associated with the event, locals contributed whatever they could. On the morning of July 27th, as Shari and her companions prepared for their journey, the situation took a tense turn. Security forces, deployed following the announcement of the gathering, intercepted those en route to Gwadar. Shari recalls how they were stopped at various che

  Photo Credit: triloks " We don't need all the basic rights, what we want is to have a say to agree and disagree." Shar BiBi requests. " To have a say when a guy comes asking for my son's or daughter's hand." Shar BiBi, hailing from the far-flung area of Dasht, Turbat is in her thirties. Being from a very backward part of Balochistan province where the cloud of male solidarity and patriarchy hovers overhead, she remained deprived of an education in her entire life.  Gul Bibi, her eldest girl child was married before she reached puberty. Like her mother, she couldn't complete her education and was married off without her consent. She died of a pregnancy related problem lately. Her second eldest daughter who is still very young to have a spouse, doesn't go to school but helps her mother in chores. Shar Bibi fears for her second child . " I fear not becasue she is uneducated,but I might lose her like Gul BiBi." Shar Bibi laments, eyes bri

Baloch students marching towards Punjab, 2020 In March 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world came to a standstill. Shops, factories, and industries shuttered, malls and restaurants emptied, and even the sea-beach lay silent without its usual bustle. Simultaneously, governments ordered the closure of educational institutions to curb the spread of the virus, prompting many people to return to their hometowns. Numerous Baloch students studying in universities across Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, and Karachi also returned to their native towns. However, as soon as the government announced the reopening of educational institutions, Baloch students were shocked to learn that the Punjab government had revoked reserved quotas for students from Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. "When we approached the Vice Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakaria University (BZU) Multan, he informed us that the Balochistan government had ceased funding, making it unfeasible f

  Pakistan's Mini-Brazil, Photo Credit: Freepik.com  Sunday is a off day. However, for Sunny Baloch* , 28, a football fanatic from the neighbourhood of Lyari, it is no less than a carnival. He recalls how the football-crazed residents of Lyari come together during the FIFA World Cup. The last gathering, during the previous year's FIFA World Cup, saw over 20,000 Lyari residents flocking to Maulvi Usman Park to support the Argentinean skipper, Lionel Messi. " I wanted Lionel Messi to crown his sparkling career with victory in that World Cup, and the skipper proved me right. " He tells with a gleam in his eyes.  Despite his respect for Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and other football forwards and captains, Sunny’s love for Messi knows no bounds. For this soccer-crazed neighborhood, the World Cup is a festival. The narrow streets are adorned with the paintings of the footballers they love and support, especially from the Brazilian team and residents wear the j

A captivating video captures the attention of social media, showcasing a mysterious figure adorned in a sand-colored cap and a finely crafted Marri-style stitched waistcoat. In this video, the enigmatic individual stands  reverently and gazes at the grave of Hani ( from the Hani and Shay Mureed Balochi folklore) for a while in Daddar, within the district of Sibi in southwestern Balochistan. With a solemn gesture, he drapes a traditional Balochi shawl over the grave as a heartfelt tribute, all the while capturing this moment with his trusted companion: a Canon camera.  He neither has money to buy a drone nor the necessary kits in photography. Driven by a deep desire to traverse the entire of Balochistan, from the awe-inspiring Koh-e-Suleiman to the coastal towns of Gwadar and Kech, and further on to Shaal (Quetta), Ziarat, and Kalat, this passionate explorer wants to showcase the beauty of Balochistan through his lenses. He doesn’t have the money to travel the entire districts of Baloch