KARACHI:
Balochistan has long been facing instability at the hands of various interest groups that have been propagating false ideologies. The truth is that poverty and chronic unemployment caused by these interest groups have led to Balochistan’s descent into disorder and chaos. Considering the deplorable situation that it is in, the federal government should not abruptly decide to shut down the Pakistan-Iran border as the people of Balochistan are tremendously affected by it.
The Pakistan-Iran border is crucial for the livelihood of the Baloch people. Harsh economic conditions have compelled thousands to earn their bread from economic activity generated through border trade with Iran. This is because Iranian products happen to be cheaper than the same items arriving from Punjab and Sindh. Therefore, border trade should be enabled and regulated in order to improve the socio-economic condition of the people of Balochistan. A plan to establish a border market system is yet to be translated into action and there is no progress in sight on such a project as of yet.
In addition, another setback for the already-fragile regional economic system has been the government’s decision to grant fishing rights to foreign trawlers stationed at the Gwadar port. This has considerably reduced the income of local fishermen who were already in dire financial conditions as they hardly have any advanced equipment and boats for fishing.
Zakriya Balach
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2022.
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