Heavy oil slick hits Gwadar’s western coast

• Spill poses a serious threat to marine life and local fishing economy
• Source of spill remains unconfirmed, though it may be linked to regional tanker incidents and sea conditions in the Strait of Hormuz

GWADAR: Gwadar’s western coast has been covered with a thick layer of crude oil across a 20-kilometre stretch, posing a severe threat to marine life and the local fishing industry, officials said on Friday.

“Thick crude oil has washed ashore, covering a vast area of the coastline and penetrating sensitive intertidal zones,” officials said.

The situation has sparked widespread concern among environmentalists and the local community over its potential long-term impact on the marine ecosystem.

(CLOCKWISE) Workers inspect patches of spilled oil washed ashore along the coast of Gwadar; a cleanup worker holds a thick clump of toxic residue while a sea turtle lies on a beach contaminated with crude oil.—Dawn

Deputy Director of Environment Abdul Rahim Baloch, while confirming that crude oil had reached Balochistan’s waters, said the unusual accumulation could be linked to ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and recent incidents involving oil tankers in the region.

“It is highly likely that strong winds from the west, coupled with sea currents, pushed the spilled oil toward the Makran coast,” he said, adding that the presence of crude oil in intertidal zones poses a grave ecological hazard.

“This oil is extremely harmful to marine life and acts as a poison for the marine ecosystem,” he warned, noting that the exact origin and cause of the spill remain unconfirmed.

The issue first came to light when Shams-ul-Haq Kalmati, the former president of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spotted the oil slick during his morning walk.

(CLOCKWISE) Workers inspect patches of spilled oil washed ashore along the coast of Gwadar; a cleanup worker holds a thick clump of toxic residue while a sea turtle lies on a beach contaminated with crude oil.—Dawn

Recognising the gravity of the situation, he immediately informed the Gwadar Development Authority’s (GDA) environment department.

Following the alert, the Municipal Wing of the Gwadar Development Authority, led by Abdul Rahim Baloch, along with the Municipal Committee Gwadar and the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) cleaning team, swiftly mobilised and launched a coastal cleanup operation.

According to Mr Baloch, the oil was first spotted three days ago, prompting an immediate assessment that revealed the spill had spread across 15 to 20 kilometres of the western coast.

Cleanup efforts are currently underway to remove the thick residue from the shoreline.

While the operation continues, environmental experts and civil society members have urged authorities to take more decisive action. They have called for a high-level investigation to determine the exact source of the spill, identify the

vessels responsible for the incident, and develop a long-term strategy to protect the livelihoods of Gwadar’s fishermen and the fragile coastal ecosystem.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026 ...