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Gwadar

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Also known as Gawadar

Gwadar (, ) is a port city on the southwestern coast of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is on the shores of the Arabian Sea, opposite Oman, and had a population of over 90,000 in 2017 census. It was an overseas possession of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman from 1783 to 1958, when it was purchased by Pakistan. It is about southwest of Turbat. The sister port city of Chabahar in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province is about to the west. On 2 April 2021, Gwadar was declared the winter capital of Balochistan.

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Place details

Locality
گوادر
Region
بلوچستان
Country
پاکستان
Population
70,852
Timezone
Asia/Karachi

via OpenStreetMap · GeoNames

Key facts

Settlement.official_name
Gwadar
Settlement.settlement_type
Port city
Settlement.image_caption
From top, left to right: Gwadar coastline, Blue Lagoon at Gwadar, Gwadar Fishing Basin, Gwadar Sangar Flagpole, Gwadar Port, Gwadar Bay
Settlement.pushpin_map
Balochistan Pakistan#Pakistan
Settlement.subdivision_type
Country
Settlement.subdivision_type1
Province
Settlement.subdivision_type2
District
Settlement.subdivision_name2
Gwadar
Settlement.subdivision_type3
Tehsil
Settlement.subdivision_name3
Gwadar
Settlement.leader_title
Mayor
Settlement.leader_name
Muhammad Sharif Miah Dad
Settlement.population_total
70,852
Settlement.population_as_of
2023
Settlement.population_density_km2
auto
Settlement.timezone1
PST
Settlement.utc_offset1
+5
Settlement.postal_code_type
Postal code

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population
70852
Elevation
4
Image
Gawadar City 2.jpg
Show 2 more facts
Commons category
Gwadar City
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

Travel guide

Understand

Gwadar has an interesting history, in that it was ruled by the Sultanate of Muscat from 1783 until 1958, when the government of Pakistan purchased the town for USD 30 million.

Get in

Karachi is the city from which Gwadar is closest and easiest accessible. You can either fly or else drive via the 653 km-long Makran Coastal Highway (N10), which runs along Arabian Sea coastline and is a scenic journey. Travel time is around 8 hours.

See

Hingol National Park- Cruising on the coastal highway approximately 190 km from Karachi you will come across Hingol National Park the largest in Pakistan. You can observe wildlife in its natural habitat and there is even a natural underground Hingol river where you can swim. Kund Malir Beach- A must see place. It is the beautiful desert beach near Hingol, some 145km from Zero-Point on Makran Coastal Highway. It lies next to the huge mountains and together it give a wild look to the place. Enjoy the desert safari and breathtaking view of the desert. Buzi Pass- Travelling on the Makran coastal highway about 6 km away from Kund Malir one would be struck by the sublime beauty of the smooth road of Buzi Pass as it snakes its way through the mountain. Sitting in a car on the Buzi Pass one can enjoy the vast blue water of the Arabian Sea on one side, then turn your head and marvel at the grandeur of majestic mountains on the other side. When you look at the lofty peaks along the coastal highway you will observe the princes of hope and lion of Balochistan. Ormara Beach- is one of the most beautiful long beach around the edge. Amazing blue Green beaches, Golden sand, and incredible natural beauty and fauna makes it worth a visit. Stay at the beach hut at Ormara Beach Resort city. Gwadar Port West Bay Beach Zalzala Jazeera - a small island near the coast Gwadar that emerged after an earthquake in 2013.

Do

Water sports - Lovers can enjoy jet skis on West Bay, wave runners machines. Scuba diving - Giant fishes, turtles, stingrays have all been spotted. Boating - Various cruises are available with or without packed lunches. Desert Safari - On sand dunes Fishing

Eat

Tai Pan, Chinese fare inside the Zaver Pearl Continental Hotel.

Travel guide from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0)

~22 min read

Article

24 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • History
  • Ancient
  • Omani rule
  • Pakistan
  • Geography
  • Topography
  • Climate
  • Demographics
  • Population
  • Administration
  • Neighbourhoods
  • Culture
  • Strategic importance
  • Economy
  • Gwadar Free Zone
  • Gwadar Port
  • Reko Diq Transport
  • New Gwadar International Airport
  • Twin towns and sister cities
  • Education
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

Gwadar (, ) is a port city on the southwestern coast of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is on the shores of the Arabian Sea, opposite Oman, and had a population of over 90,000 in 2017 census. It was an overseas possession of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman from 1783 to 1958, when it was purchased by Pakistan. It is about southwest of Turbat. The sister port city of Chabahar in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province is about to the west. On 2 April 2021, Gwadar was declared the winter capital of Balochistan.

Founded in the late 17th century as a fishing settlement, Gwadar became a regional trade hub within the Omani Empire in the 20th century before being ceded to Pakistan (1958). Modest investment from China helped accelerate Gwadar's development from 2013 to 2020 when the city started to develop its economy. In 2025, overall investment reached 1 billion USD.

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