A safe and prosperous Balochistan has been one of the main objectives of the government since it came to power by launching Aghaaz Haqooq-i-Baluchistan which was perhaps the only rational step taken by it since. Balochistan as an integral part of Pakistan holds great geo-strategic significance along with a huge treasure of mineral resources worth billions of dollars due to which it has become a mouth watering site for foreign powers.
Stability for the province thus becomes imperative to stall and reverse the foreign intervention. It has to be realised though that in the current economic and political scenario of Pakistan, one cannot be over ambitious and expect miracles over night. According to reports, 15 out of the 61 major steps marked out by the government have reached completion while the rest still await implementation which is way too slow for developmental standards, but in the national operational index it is a fair enough start.
One of the major hindrances, however, has been noted to be the deep rooted incompetence and inability at the administrative level stemming from a comprehensive systemic failure at the political and constitutional level which needs to be rectified for progress to take place at all.
This vice, therefore, is not specific to any province. In fact, the entire country is in its grip that in turn leads to a serious issue of peace and security.
In this backdrop, the few developmental projects initiated in Balochistan will bear impact albeit at a slow pace. Among them are the Chamalang coal mines that provide employment and education opportunities to thousands, the conversion of two cantonments into educational institutes and cadet college that aim at providing higher education to the locals and the induction of Balochi youth into the armed forces that is bound to make a huge difference and bring Balochistan on the power spectrum.
LUBNA HAMEED
Rawalpindi