Zainab Baloch (Urdu: زینب بلوچ), often referred to as "Amma Zaini" (اماں زینی) is a Pakistani activist who initiated Gwadar protests in mid-2021, called for basic facilities like clean drinking water, hospitals, and electricity in the local communities.
Zainab Baloch inspired many through her poetry and leadership, initially sparking the movement by opposing infrastructure projects that impeded local fishermen's access to the sea.
[1][3] Zainab initiated the protest movement by rallying local residents against the construction of an expressway that obstructed access to the sea for fishermen, a critical source of livelihood for the community.
[4] She took a stand for her fellow community when important Chinese visitors arrive at the port town, Pakistani military personnel stop local fishermen from going out to sea.
[8] Additional demands emerged later, including more lenient regulations on informal cross-border trade with Iran, fewer security checkpoints in the region, and a halt to illegal trawling, which significantly impacts the livelihoods of the local community reliant on fishing as a primary source of income.