The ongoing protest sit-in by the All Parties Alliance at Marine Drive has entered its seventh consecutive day on Monday, paralyzing daily life in Gwadar.
The demonstrators are demanding the reopening of the Pak-Iran business point and the removal of the token system introduced at the Kantane Hur trade point.
According to the protesters, the closure of the border has deprived Gwadar residents of their primary source of livelihood, border trade. They argue that the token system has further complicated trade operations and exacerbated unemployment in the area.
Speaking to the media, protesters criticized the policy, stating it has become a major obstacle to economic activity. ‘The closure of the border and the token system have left many families in Gwadar struggling for survival,’ one protester said.
MPA Rehmat Saleh Baloch, a central leader of the National Party, also voiced his concerns, describing the border closure as a severe blow to the Mekran division, affecting Gwadar, Turbat, and Pajgur. He urged residents and party workers to join the protest, emphasizing the need to restore trade for the region’s economic stability.
The sit-in continues as protesters remain steadfast in their demands, calling on authorities to address the issue urgently.