The Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) has formally designated its Beach Model Park as an exclusive recreational space for women and children, marking a significant step toward enhancing safe public environments for female visitors and minors. The decision was announced in a public notice issued by GDA’s Director of Environment, who said the policy aims to provide a “secure, clean and comfortable environment where women and children can enjoy leisure activities without any inconvenience," according to Gwadar Pro.

The seaside park includes walking tracks, shaded seating areas, landscaped lawns and dedicated play zones. Already considered one of Gwadar’s most frequented family attractions, the new designation is expected to draw even more women, particularly during evening hours and weekends. In June 2023, GDA transformed Model Beach Park into a family park, with Sundays reserved for women’s recreation. It also allowed a group of female friends to establish a stall named “Baloch Inside Hub” in the park.

The stall offers food items, books, stationery, toys and other products catering specifically to women and children. Previously operating only on Sundays, the Baloch Inside Hub will now be able to open more days following the latest notification. For the general public, notable parks in Gwadar include GDA Central Park (Herboie Park) on Jinnah Avenue, Sunset Park in the Hammerhead area and the recreational stretch along Marine Drive.

However, with the introduction of the new policy, Beach Model Park becomes the district’s only women-and-children-exclusive recreational facility. Across Balochistan, women-only public spaces remain rare. While several districts host family parks popular among women and children — such as Fatima Jinnah Family Park, Liaquat Park, Zam Zam Park (Hazara Town), Askari Park and Green Pakistan Family Resort in Quetta — none operates under a women-only policy. Other districts also maintain public or family parks, but without dedicated female-exclusive zones.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China