KARACHI:
About 41% of families in Balochistan live below the poverty line, which is 11% of all poor households in the country. Being in poverty is a curse. To those who cannot provide their families with enough food and clothing; cannot access a hospital or a school; and cannot find a single job to support themselves and their families, it causes many problems. Poverty has brought a lot of challenges to the province that are difficult to handle.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province in terms of area, least populous, and richest in natural resources. One believes the province is the most naturally endowed in the entire world because of its abundance of natural resources. Unfortunately, its inhabitants are mired in deep poverty. Unemployment is one of the main problems in Balochistan, with half of its population deprived of jobs, and one-third struggling for two square meals a day. Several students pass their graduation every year, but they struggle in getting a job. It goes without saying that poverty and unemployment result in numerous social ills, including beggary, robbery, suicides as well as terrorism.
Life is becoming more and more difficult for the people of Balochistan. Most parts of the province are still deprived of even basic facilities. Additionally, children and women in the province, in particular, lack access to medical care. Majority of doctors make money through private practice in major cities instead of attending to poor people in villages and far-off places.
It is about time our rulers paid attention to the very many problems that the people of Balochistan continue to face.
Marwand Raza
Awaran
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2022.
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