Photo Credits: Muneer BalochThere is much more to know about Balochistan besides its geostrategic, geo-economic importance, and mineral potential. The people living on the land are equally significant as the resources underneath the land of Balochistan.
Livestock, agriculture, fisheries, and the production of minerals, coal, and gas are the province’s main economic drivers. Outside of Quetta, the province’s infrastructure is slowly but noticeably lagging behind other areas of Pakistan. Other sources of income and nutrition for the local inhabitants include limited farming in the east and fishing along the Arabian Sea shoreline.
Moreover, the ranges of the province, which offer a variety of uses, including feed for livestock, wildlife habitat, medicinal plants, watershed, fuel wood, and recreational activities, are the source of the remaining rural economy and livelihoods.
Balochistan is by far the largest in terms of area but has the smallest in terms of population. Meanwhile, the province comprises over 44% of the country’s total land area (12 persons per sq. Km.). The province is situated in South-Western Pakistan (220–320 N, 660–700 E). The region can be categorized as inter-mountainous to a degree of about 80%. Flood plains and coastal plains make up the remaining 20%.
The Sulaiman, Toba-Kakar, Central Brahvi, Kirthar, Chagai, Raskoh, and central Makran and Makran coast are significant mountain ranges. The annual precipitation ranges from 200 to 350 mm in Balochistan, with a variable percentage of this total falling as moisture in the form of snow and rain in the middle of winter or as intense showers in the summer. The climate is continental semi-arid Mediterranean.
Unirrigated agriculture is unfeasible due to the uniform aridity (which seldom exceeds 400 mm on average annually, but in many areas as low as 50 mm annually). Compared to the other three provinces in the nation, Balochistan has a lower-density of population. While Pashtuns predominate in the north of the province, Balochs make up the majority in the south and east. Baloch, Hazara, and Punjabi minorities coexist alongside the Pashtun majority in Quetta, the province’s capital.
There are a sizable number of Brahui speakers in the Kalat region and other areas of the province. Several Makrani Balochs are prevalent along the coast. Dehwars who speak Persian can also be found in the Kalat region and further west, near the Iranian border. The province is also home to 769,000 Afghan refugees, including Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Hazaras. Several Sindhi farmers have also relocated to the province’s eastern, more agricultural regions.
Furthermore, there are 36 districts in the province. The District Coordination Officer oversees each district. Balochistan province has 11000 primary schools, 800 middle schools, 400 high schools, 73 colleges, and 5 universities. With a ratio of 36.5% male to 15.0% female, the literacy rate is 26.6%. Meanwhile, the province’s major towns and cities are connected to a communication network that includes landline and mobile telephone connections, as well as radio and television stations. Concrete is mostly used in the construction of metropolitan communities. Most of the urban poor live in a few informal communities that are made of mud, concrete mix, and improvised sheeting, whereas the rural buildings are composed of mud.
Lastly, the province’s 9,000 rural communities are sporadically dispersed (approximately 30 miles apart). The annual pace of urban expansion is roughly 4.5 percent. The rural economy is suffering because of the emigration, while urban infrastructure and services are being put under strain. Water, gas, and electricity are delivered to the major towns in a manner that keeps up with the rising demand.
Balochistan is a region rich in cultural diversity and history, with a vibrant community of people living there. The local customs, languages, and traditions of the Baloch, Pashtun, Brahvi, Hazara, and other ethnic groups contribute to the unique identity of the region. Therefore, understanding and respecting the people and their heritage is crucial alongside considering the economic and strategic aspects of the land.
