Residents of Chabahar & the Province Must Be Prioritized in Benefiting from Mega Projects

Addressing the Sunni Friday gathering in Chabahar on November 14, 2025, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid highlighted issues regarding livelihood, employment, and healthcare in Chabahar and southern Sistan-Baluchestan.
He stated that the residents of these regions have the right to be prioritized in receiving benefits from major development projects.
The prominent Iranian religious scholar remarked: “The people of Chabahar have endured significant hardships and deserve special attention. It is unacceptable for the people to live alongside major companies, factories, the Makoran Coast, the Free Zone, and other mega-projects while remaining deprived. The people of Sistan-Baluchestan, and particularly Chabahar, must not be forgotten amidst these major initiatives. It is the right of the people of Chabahar and the province to be given priority in the benefits of these projects.”
“Unfortunately, there is no visible development in the city of Chabahar. Chabahar is a coastal city. In other countries, coastal cities that serve as tourism hubs receive special attention and are well-developed. Chabahar also hosts many tourists during Nowruz and other holidays. Therefore, the government must recognize Chabahar’s importance and develop the city. The local provincial administration needs to pay special attention to Chabahar, particularly regarding drinking water and infrastructure,” Mawlana Abdolhamid underlined.
He further more said: “The people of Chabahar should be prosperous, and trade and business in the city must flourish. When the Free Zone was activated in Chabahar, everyone assumed the city would bloom, people’s conditions would improve, and land values would rise. Regrettably, the opposite occurred, and no real progress has taken place in Chabahar.”
“Given that vast amounts of goods and resources are cleared through the Chabahar port, the local population should benefit financially, and commerce within the city should be activated,” the prominent social leader said.
He added more: “Dr. Arbabi, the CEO of the Chabahar Free Zone, is one of the region’s well-intentioned administrators, and the public is more satisfied with his performance compared to previous CEOs. We call upon him, the provincial governor, and all officers and the central government to pay special attention to the city of Chabahar.”
Shaikh Abdolhamid emphasized: “Large factories, such as petrochemical and steel plants, must prioritize hiring local residents. These factories should organize skills training courses to train local youth and employ them. A vocational university should be established in the region so that the workforce requirements of these factories and mega projects can be met by the local population.”
“The people of Chabahar live right next to the ocean yet remain thirsty; this is a grave injustice. It is astonishing that nearly fifty years have passed since the Revolution, yet state officials have still not solved the drinking water crisis for the people of Chabahar. If seawater is being desalinated and transported to distant cities, the people of Chabahar should receive it first; Chabahar must be prioritized,” he stressed.
Mawlana Abdolhamid said more: “The Department of Roads and Urban Development must resolve the documentation issues regarding the properties of Chabahar residents. Chabahar is an ancient city, yet residents face problems to get necessary documents for their lands and homes, and transactions are still conducted using old registration numbers. Much of the land is held by Housing and Urban Development. Why should this be the case? The bureau, the government, and the provincial administration must resolve this issue.”
“The Chabahar Housing Foundation, which was previously the subject of complaints, is now under local administration and is performing well in issuing deeds to the public. Residents of the villages surrounding Chabahar should take advantage of this opportunity to obtain title deeds for their homes and lands.”
The most outstanding Iranian Sunni leader concluded his points among the people of Chabahar and said: “The healthcare and medical situation in Chabahar is extremely poor. People are constantly complaining about it. The government, officials, and the provincial administration must take note of this. The 540-bed hospital in Chabahar needs to be completed and operationalized with modern facilities as soon as possible.”