Last week, Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar, which is best known as the gateway of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, was transformed into a book lover’s paradise. It hosted the Gwadar Book Festival, organized by a local organization, the Rural Community Development Council.

The vibrant festival draw hundreds of writers, activists, environmentalists, academics, and community leaders from different parts of Pakistan. Over $10,000 worth of books were sold at the event — a remarkable feat for a small town like Gwadar, which has a population of under 100,000.

The theme of the festival was climate change, its challenges, and how it can be tackled. While a range of topics were discussed at the festival session,s it was climate change that resonated the most with the local community, given Gwadar’s unique environmental vulnerabilities. The theme highlighted the urgent need to address the city’s exposure to climate-related risks and the need to find sustainable solutions for its future.

Perched on the edge of the Arabian Sea, Gwadar is a town of stark contrasts. Once a quiet fishing hub, it has gradually evolved into a critical node of economic activity under CPEC. However, this newfound prominence, while masking the growing environmental vulnerabilities the city today faces, also highlights the urgent need for sustainable development and climate resilience.

For example, recently the government of Pakistan announced the completion of a feasibility study for a water supply project that aims to provide water to Gwadar from Tajikistan to address water shortages. While the full details of this ambitious project’s execution are unclear, it emphasizes the urgent need for reliable water resources as Gwadar continues to........

© The Diplomat