ISLAMABAD   -   In pursuance of constructing a 1.2 MGD (million gallon per day) Water Desalination Plant, comprehensive soil testing kicked off in the premises of Gwadar Port Free Zone area.

According to a Gwadar Pro report, the water desalination plant, being built with Chinese grant, aims to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water to poor residents of Gwadar.

Soil testing encompassing a dredging process on three points will be completed within a few days.

As for the first point of dredging which had to be drilled approximately 33 feet, the results remained robust and positive,” Geologist Sajjad Ali, supervising soil testing on site of the under-construction water desalination plant, told Gwadar Pro.

“The boring at Point 2 will also be completed in two and three days and after that the next phase involving pilling and foundation will commence accordingly,” he added.

Dawood Baloch, GPA Project Director of the plant said that the plant is being constructed with Chinese grant of Rs. 2 billion. It is another gift from China to Gwadar, he added.

The water desalination plant project, he said, will be sufficient to meet water demand of the Gwadar city and Gwadar port. He said initially a 0.5 MGD Water Desalination Plant project was inked with conduction of feasibility and survey by government of Pakistan and China.

Later fathoming realistic rising water demand, PC 1 was finalized for the construction of a 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant. On 5 July 2021, the government approved the 1.2 MGD Water Desalination Plant for Gwadar.