Coastal Highway - Karachi to Gawader

[SAV123]

Thanks, sir! this is really encouraging news

[capsat]

carry some munching rations & enough of drinking water.
hand sanitizer and kitchen roll in case of some natural emergency.

[capsat]

This is from Aug 2021 an unplanned quick trip for long closure of metro cities.

In distance the elevated structure is PC GAWADER in worst & pathetic condition. Entry in car is Rs. 300 per person. Adjustable in final bill if restaurant services are used.

a pakwheeler always find something like these, an engine a HINO Diesel inline 6 cylinder from truck, used as marine engine. Ustaad i question was totally clue less about cooling system they use a belt driven pump to push (flow) sea water for engine cooling. I was jaw drop but choose not to say a word. engine is overhauled every year when fishing season is off.

the only thing new is Gawadar Marine drive and new city developments. Gawader lay out is based upon Sharjah town planning. It has round abouts and culverts.

Gawader is best place for long weekends. in under 700 km distance of Karachi. Calm, quiet peaceful.

Food joints are almost non-existent. Choice of food is seriously restricted. Fridays' are off, Jetty is closed so no fresh seafood is available.

Food at any cafe / motel / Restaurants need 75 min prep time. All is cooked fresh. no half done pre cooked meal storage. Priced reasoneable.

Started at 6am, stopped at kund malir , ormara , reached Gawader at 5 PM. 10 people in 2 Suvs. For us Hangool & Buzi pass was the most interesting drive-by.

[capsat]

instead of creating a new thread I decided to post some pics here. I will see what else i can share more when my other fellow riders share their folders.

@hanifbhatti saheb @asifcae @nagar1 @tourist @consigliori @babarhyd @ser_gtr @rehankillbill

questions related to trip are welcome

[capsat]

on thursday there was strike & closure of Ormara / Gawader Highway.

We left on friday and faced 4 road closures and had to go off road. The protest was by the common people demanding basic rights as in Drinking water & uninterrupted power. I forgot to mention drinking water is to be 'purchased' line water is desalinated with high impurities.

The local garrison commander agreed with the local leadership demand and expressed solidarity. keep themselves away by taking word from locals that no body will be hurt damage to property or violence within.

This morning Saturday the sad news rcvd, the sleeper enemy agents took the opportunity and started violence by exploding an IED, killing many innocent civilians & foreign nationals. as of now the situation is reported to be highly volatile and city is on strike. LEA presence is visible, but not engaging with locals in any confrontation.

[capsat]

Only UFONE is active all other services are intermittent.

Hangol & Buzi pass are mostly dead zone for Ufone as well.

Internet connectivity for ZONG is best in Gawader ( due to CPEC project )

[sajidahmed]

How about a family tour, is it safe?
Accommodation other then PC?

[krafiq]

Boys just came back yesterday from Gwadar. What a trip, high positives and high negatives.
Bomb blast yesterday evening killing a foreign national and two locals....
We left gwadar at 8 am for KARACHI. Were stopped at the main exit point, a dharna of locals was going on. They were demanding clean drinking water and electricity. No one was being allowed to pass even ambulance...I mean no one!
Here the twist starts. Some suggested taking turbat route to Karachi. Police told us is not possible, only 4*4 can make that track, advised us to and everyone else to go back to hotel and sleep it off.
Then a cavalcade formed of 11 cars, who tried an alternative route. After a little while on the road, army team accosted us and we were told to take detour in the Desert! They deputed two locals on bike to see us through.
Off roading in desert, to be done by mehran, civic new shape, city, corollas, vezel, and axio hybrid. What a ride gentlemen, took us 5 hours of wandering like a nomad in the Desert to reach the road. Once in the road, we could actually see the dharna site and people sitting on the crossing.
What a journey. Word of advice. Take 4*4 anywhere you travel on road trip in Pakistan. Things go south without any notice

[consigliori]

@capsat. Did Ormara (3 days) in 2015. Stayed at Naval Base (Land Cruiser 80 series on OEM suspension). Did Gawadar in 2017 (Honda Civic 2015 Gen 9). Stayed at Army facility (Hammer Head) near PC. Father arranged with the Mess cook to prepare seafood for us which we bought from jetty. Prawns and white Kund. Trust me, the taste of that seafood was amazing. Somehow looked and tasted "cleaner" than what we get in Karachi. Amazing drive, very scenic, long stretches of wilderness (mein aur meri tanhai..). NOT A SOLO JOURNEY. VEHICLES HAVE TO BE 100% FIT!!! travelled in 3 cars (all siblings & their families + our parents). Irani petrol all the way (no issues faced at all; yes even in the Civic). Amazing places, amazing journey. Munchies, water etc need to be carried. Different connections (jazz, ufone, zong, telenor) in one cavalcade are a bonus.

[consigliori]

Forgot to mention, no restrooms so no over eating and over drinking (water bhai​). Locals are wary at first but then open up. Unfortunately not very happy with Punjabis. My father instructed us all (most of me) to speak less in front of the locals 🤣. Kya karein bhai, puranay lahori hain, accent to rahay gaa

[krafiq]

There were no listings on bookings.com.
Google search yielded only 4/5 places for staying.
Prices range from 8k to 20 k(PC) of you are looking for family accommodation.

[sajidahmed]

Thanks

[capsat]

How about a family tour, is it safe?Accommodation other then PC?

it is very safe. unless you choose to annoy or confront a local.

The vehicles has to be 100% fit. Top up fuel at Kund malir then at Ormara.
after searching for hotel and inspecting 5 places (for clean bathrooms & bedding conditions)

GAWADER Tourist Motel & Resturant over Marine Drive next to DIG Office is BEST,
Asif Munir is Owner number is 0334 560 1661.

Room 106 & 102 we occupied 2 rooms and paid Rs. 15000 / night for 2 rooms. ( big rooms with sitting like area (for extra mattresses)

PC Gawader is pathetic non-sense place these days.

This was my 1st trip non-business trip after 2007. (which was also shared here)

I've been doing it solo twice / three times a year. last it was before COVID in Aug 2019 . I usually starts at 5.30 and reach by lunch hour. 2 stops for fuel top up.

accommodation is always ready. never have to pay for it or looked to stay outside.

[krafiq]

PC Gwadar

[consigliori]

Visited PC both for breakfast and dinner. Staff was happy to see genuine customers and not sightseers, half the lights were off (yes seriously) which were turned on. Very small layout for buffet breakfast (infact the things were set out when we sat down and ordered). The only main attraction being the live omelet with small support of items. At least they had or made lassie for us (hate the sugared artificial juices). Overall experience was below average/ expectations.

[capsat]

The access to PC Gawader has 2 security checks then an entry fee of Rs. 300 per person. Adjustable in the final bill if anything is consumed. Halls are closed, Lobby washrooms are smelly dirty & leaking.

Upon visit at 4.30 pm we were told that Hi-tea is only on Thursdays & Fridays while Buffet dinner is served after 8PM only that too depending upon private occupancy of guests. While leaving at 7.30 (after sunset & snacking to justify the 300 per person charged parking) we witnessed several families turned away. People were willing to pay but lack of man power was the reason guests intake was declined.

The shortage of staff turn out as serious serving delays. 10 cups of coffee & 5 club sandwiches took 75 minutes.

The 2 floors permanently occupied by CPEC Local & Foreign staff have their own food serving sections which is not for private guests. Over all PC Gawader is not upto mark.

[capsat]

@drimranarif @alee_k
this is updated in Aug 2021

[drimranarif]

Thx

[PKTUN]

that is great progress of Gawader however we have been reading over bloomberg & economist articles that Beijing is not very pleased by "the extortion tactics" of Islamabad under CPEC, they are looking at Karachi as an alternative or want to have a 'Pay Back plan' from the Govt of Pakistan before any further dough. How true is that ?

[Moderator]