Balochistan is the biggest province of Pakistan by area. It covers 44 per cent of total territory of Pakistan and accounts for five per cent of the country’s total population. The people of Balochistan are valiant, hospitable, and sincere. They are slaves of their traditions and masters of their own destiny.
Balochistan is rich in natural resources. It is estimated that the province has ample resources of copper, marble, granite, gold, antimony, iron ore, lead-zinc ores, manganese ore, gypsum, barites, coal, gas reserves and up to 750 kilometres of coastal area. But despite the abundance of resources, Balochistan is the most remote and marginalised province of Pakistan.
The plight of socioeconomic conditions together with the geo-strategic location of Balochistan has made this province a hotbed of the global great game that has resulted in insurgency. Nearly 60 per cent people are living below the poverty line, 70 per cent people are exposed to food insecurity, prevalence of maternal anaemia is high and 2.3 million children are out of school.
Aristotle said that poverty is the mother of revolution and crimes. How great it would be if peace and prosperity is brought to Balochistan by alleviating poverty. Recently, I happened to attend a ceremony held in Quetta regarding the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme. The programme reflects the prime minister’s vision and aims to impart skills to youth. Training will be given to unemployed youth so that they may become skilful and play a role in economic activity in the country.
Since the last couple of years, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is an important subject whenever there is debate on the energy crisis in the country. Two of the most important hurdles in the way of construction of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline are the financial constraints and security hazards. Financial issues cannot be solved if security hazards are not mitigated. The world is moving towards transformational development through a participatory approach in which people have the power to play a frontline role.
The security hazards can easily be solved if the traditions of Balochistan are invoked and carefully used. For example, suppose the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline passes through volatile areas of Balochistan in which there is insurgency. If so, before initiating any construction work of the pipeline, the youth of these areas may be first given training for the skills needed for the construction of the pipeline. Once the youth is trained, all of them may be recruited for construction work. During the construction activity, the local youth may be given competitive salary at their doorstep. After completion of the pipeline, the same youth may be given jobs for the security and maintenance of the pipeline. The local tribal chief may be also given authority for supervision of the pipeline passing through his area. He may ask the district or provincial administration in case he needs help or there is a major problem. A separate budget may be allocated for this purpose along with the appointment of a division coordinator in these areas across Balochistan.
Skills training through technical vocational education and training in the pipeline construction will not only ensure job opportunities for the youth of volatile areas from where the pipeline has to pass but it will also help in improving human development indicators in these areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (9)
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@Toticalling: You look insane by your comments . Go and consult a psychiatrist for what you feel for
@doesnt matter: Not that. But I know in Pakistan, most of men colour their hair to show they are still young. It is an obsession by so many people. I was pleasantly surprised that a lady is not following that obsession for which I complimented her.
@Toticalling: that's what u took from d article? :P
@goldconsumer:
The parliamentarian is not asking for settlers nor for private investors but the allocation of resources from the central Government to set up a technical school for training local youth into a skilled idividual who can the be employed on the constrution of the gas pipeline and later for amintanance work, a long winded thought through idea. Miss Baloch mistake being that she thinks of Pakistan current business cum politician Prime Ministe being a man of vision. But I fully agree with you, about the private investors being given the opportunity to develope the country. This can still be followed through and foreign investors could be organised if Miss Baurse which will loch can convert her ideas into a project with financial needs. However, Pakistan as a country must evolve itself into a fedearal system of Government, which is localy organised and controlled, its cenral Government rsponsible for defense and foreign affairs. Pakistan current coalition Government of civil and military however, is embarked on a coarse which will most probably end up in the break up of one unit if a federal system is not introduced.
Rex Minor
your monthly curse?
@Toticalling:
You should be ashamed of making uncivilised comments on authors persona! And for ET to publish it is equaly disgusting.
Rex Minor
Industrialization is and has always been the best solution to generate revenue, raise skill levels of people and in return increase the overall income of the province, unless you have vast fertile lands and you opt for agriculture based economy.
Since the very begining, why Baloch sardars have signed agreements with the federation to "pump" their gas several thousand kilometers away to Punjab's Industrial zones in Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Lahore etc? Just imagine, if their would have been a policy to invite these investors to settle into Balochistan? If more successful projects like the Hub industrial zone were created in Dera Bugti, Sibbi, Kalat etc?
But that would have meant the end of this cruel Sardari system. Nad that is the rootcause of all eveils in Balochistan..
Very sensible and yet achievable recommendations. I could not help detecting that the author shows grey hair. I notice most of men and women in Pakistan colour their hair, to show others they are younger than than their real age. This lady beats them all up. Ms baloch you look graceful with your real colour of hair. I hope others follow your example. Down with those who almost always tell others they are younger than their age. I call them liars.
Very sensible and yet achievable recommendations. I could not help detecting that the author shows grey hair. I notice most of men and women in Pakistan colour their hair, to show others they are younger than than their real age. This lady beats them all up. Ms baloch you look graceful with your real colour of hair. I hope others follow your example. Down with age liars.