DND Report
According to the 2023 census, the population of Pakistan is about 242 million. Punjab, the most populous province, has a total population of about 127.68 million. It is followed by Sindh, at 55.69 million, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is the third most populous province, with a population of about 40.856 million. Balochistan has the least population of around 12 million.
The province is known for its diverse ethnic groups and important natural resources. This small population is spread throughout Balochistan, which is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area, due to which it is a natural thing to face difficulties in administrative affairs. Balochistan consists of various ethnic groups. A major part of these groups consists of Pashtuns, followed by the Brahvi community, Hazaras, and settlers from other parts of the country. While the Baloch population represents an important and influential segment, the presence of these other groups highlights the multicultural and social nature of the population in Balochistan.
Apart from Balochistan, a large number of Baloch people live in various provinces and major urban centers of Pakistan. Notable Baloch tribes are found in Punjab and Sindh. Moreover, large cities and economic centers like Karachi also have a large population of Baloch who contribute to the city’s workforce. The migration of Baloch people has often been seen due to various factors including the desire for better employment opportunities, education, and better living conditions. Due to this migration, Baloch culture was introduced to the host regions and the fusion of local cultures increased national unity and fostered the perception that the unique Baloch heritage and traditions were linked to the wider Pakistani identity.
Apart from Pakistan, there is also a large population of Baloch in Iran where they are considered a minority group. Despite their historical and cultural uniqueness, the concept of their separation from Iran is far-fetched. Iran’s internal geo-political, social, and economic factors also negate any separatist tendencies. Associating Baloch tribes living in Iran with Baloch separatist tendencies in Pakistan is contrary to facts and nothing but an anti-state narrative. The concept of a separate Balochistan is essentially a myth, a narrative created and perpetuated by hostile elements who are fully aware of its impracticability. This is proven by the fact that the geopolitical and social realities surrounding the region make an independent Balochistan impractical. Therefore, the propaganda of separate Balochistan is shallow and selfish.
The province has considerable potential which can be exploited for regional and national development. This potential is manifested by various factors which must be covered to confirm that the people of Balochistan are inclined to their economic and social improvement due to their immense potential.
Due to its strategic location, Balochistan is considered a strategic gateway for South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East historically having several important trade routes that can facilitate economic activities and trade not only within the province but also in neighboring regions. Secondly, Balochistan is rich in mineral resources, which create extraordinary opportunities for economic development. The province is rich in minerals including copper, gold, coal, and various industrial minerals. Extraction and processing of these resources can significantly boost the local economy, create employment opportunities, and attract foreign investment. Additionally, some areas in Balochistan have fertile land that is suitable for agricultural activities. Promoting agricultural development through modern farming techniques and irrigation projects can be useful in addressing issues such as food security and not only increasing the income of local farmers but is also important for overall economic stability in the province. In addition, the presence of a coastline provides opportunities for the province’s access to maritime trade, including fishing and shipping. Likewise, ports and related facilities can transform Balochistan into a major commercial hub, facilitating international shipping and trade. This aspect of connectivity can lead to increased economic activity and the creation of employment opportunities. Apart from all these factors, the hardy people of Balochistan are an invaluable asset for the development of the province. The tenacity of the Baloch nation is historically a Muslim fact. By investing in various sectors, the capacity of the workforce can be further enhanced and the productivity in these sectors can be further enabled by increasing agricultural efficiency.
The anti-Pakistani forces are well aware of the role of Balochistan in the overall development of Pakistan and they are busy to prevent this possible development. Balochistan’s vast mineral reserves, strategic location, and talented manpower pose a major threat to Pakistan’s hostile forces, which is an important component of the international anti-Pakistan agenda. They consider the empowerment and development of Balochistan as a conflict with their interests, which is why they support anti-state activities in every way that destabilizes the region. Therefore, terrorist organizations present in Balochistan have been assigned nefarious objectives of anti-Pakistan strategy to foment chaos through violent activities. These groups aim to undermine the infrastructure that is essential for development. These terrorist acts have multifaceted objectives. On the one hand, they cause obstacles in the way of administrative affairs and development, on the other hand, they also create negative effects on the minds of the local population, particularly youth, which creates a state of confusion among the people and they start losing confidence in the institutions. People suffering from this desperation are attracted to these organizations and thus increase their workforce. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and various other Baloch sub-nationalist groups are used for these purposes.
These terrorist groups carry out acts such as intimidation or direct attacks on workers engaged in these projects, attacks on construction camps, and destruction or sabotage of machinery and equipment used for development purposes. These actions are presented by these elements as a reaction to the previous deprivation and exploitation of Balochistan. By undermining development efforts, these terrorist elements aim to draw attention to their cause and promote demands for greater autonomy or secession. Such tactics not only lead to the damage of essential infrastructure and economic development in the region but also increase the atmosphere of instability and insecurity undermining the cooperative and constructive environment for development in Balochistan and complicating development efforts, adding to the socio-economic challenges faced by local populations.
Situations in which security risk increases significantly result in not only difficult implementation of development projects but also profound negative effects on various stakeholders involved in the process. As risks increase, projects cost also increase to three to four times the original estimates. This inflation in project costs not only puts pressure on the project budget but also complicates financial planning and resource management. Additionally, heightened security concerns become a deterrent for foreign investors and international partners who would otherwise be interested in engaging in business ventures in the affected area. Consequently, this reluctance on the part of local and foreign investors is bound to result in a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI).
A narrative has been constructed around the concept of deprivation and exploitation of Balochistan to morally protect these acts of terrorism. It has all the features that make it unlikely to succeed and cannot garner widespread support. As a result, the narrative centered around deprivation is misleading, as it does not correspond to real solutions to the problems and has limited support that is not linked to the conditions on the ground.
Balochistan represents a multi-faceted political representation where various national political parties, such as the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam play important roles. Each of these parties has established its presence and influence within the province. Balochistan has always been part of the national political process. These parties have not only participated in the provincial governance by joining different national political parties of Balochistan, but the political figures of Balochistan have also held important positions at the national level, including the Prime Minister (Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali), Chairman Including senior positions such as Senate (Sadiq Sanjrani) and Deputy Speaker National Assembly (Qasim Suri). It is also worth mentioning here that apart from the representation of the political leadership of Balochistan in the highest political positions, two of the 17 commanders of the Pakistan Army belong to Balochistan, General Muhammad Musa and General Abdul Waheed Kakar serve as Army Chiefs.
These facts are enough to understand that the victim card is nothing but an attempt to reject realities and today’s youth should be reached by the state to deliberate with youth and share that realities are not those that are being sold in the market of lies and hate.
