Balochistan package — promises not fulfilled yet

The federal and Balochistan governments have so far fulfilled 65 percent of the commitments made in the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan (AHB) package, an initiative that was launched by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government two years ago with an aim to reduce the sense of alienation and deprivation among the people of Balochistan and grant them political, cultural and economic rights.
Though Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani often takes pride in claiming that over 80 percent of the Balochistan package has been implemented, the truth of the matter is that out of 61 policy actions committed in the package, 34 have been implemented, while five are in the advanced stage and 22 are yet to be implemented.
Though the cabinet was all set to discuss the progress on the Balochistan package today (Tuesday), the meeting was cancelled because of the sad demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto. The cabinet would now keep the package on top of its agenda for its next meeting, and Establishment Division (ED) Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari would give a briefing on the package’s implementation status, a source in the ED told Pakistan Today.
“The next cabinet meeting would have a briefing on the Balochistan package which tops the agenda items list,” confirmed another official of PM’s Secretariat.
According to the implementation report scheduled to be presented in Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, a copy of which is available exclusively with Pakistan Today, the authorities implemented the package at significant pace.
However, the government has failed to create a trickledown effect to the grassroots level, as the common Baloch youth has either not yet received benefits from the government’s efforts or the negative impression created by local ethnic parties, militant and separatist rebel groups has not been dispelled.
According to the report acquired exclusively by Pakistan Today, the package implementation is being supervised by a cabinet committee while the ED is acting as the committee’s secretariat. The committee has held 15 sessions since 2009 to review progress. Out of those, three sessions have been chaired by the prime minister.
Under the project’s mandate, 61 policy actions in four categories were promised. Out of those, six steps were constitutional in nature, five were political, 16 were administrative and 34 were financial.
Of the total, 34 policy actions have been implemented, while five are in advanced stages and 22 are either in the initial phase or not implemented. Of the six constitutional actions, five have been implemented and one is in the later stages. Two out of five political policy actions and seven out of 16 administrative actions have been implemented. Twenty out of 34 economic actions have also been implemented, and among the remaining 14, two are in advanced stages while 12 are awaiting implementation.
PROMISES YET TO BE DELIVERED: The pledges in the AHB package awaiting implementation include political dialogue with significant groups.
“The names of 340 Baloch dissident families, including Barhamdagh Bugti, have been omitted from the list of terrorists and they have been asked to return home, but trust deficit is hindering peace talks,” said a source in the ED, adding that it would take time to overcome the trust deficit.
Asked how Barhamdagh could be dropped from the list when he was wanted in several cases of murder and sabotage, the official said ‘terrorism’ was a vague term and that there was no proper definition of terrorism available at any international forum.
Despite the government’s repeated offers to the separatists to start peace talks, no success has been achieved due to trust deficit on both sides. Continued refusals by exiled Baloch leaders to return to Pakistan are also delaying peace talks.
“The Balochistan government has informed those 340 families, which are in self-imposed exile including Nawab of Kalat Suleman Dawood, Barhaddagh Bugti and Hairbiyar Marri, but no response has been received due to trust deficit on both sides and a lack of commitment. They have been informed that they are not being treated as terrorists and are welcome to return,” said an official associated with the Balochistan package. Salient features of the implementation report are as follows:
MEGA PROJECTS: The proviso of Balochistan chief minister to be the ex-officio chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) is to be approved by parliament besides the GPA Bill of 2010.
REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES: In order to ensure civilian control over the Frontier Constabulary and Pakistan Coast Guards, their operational jurisdiction(s) and coordination to be ensured with civilian agencies, check-posts beyond permissible limits and harassment of citizens.
The role of FC Balochistan in law enforcement will be brought under the chief minister. FC has been directed to act on the advice of the CM. Thirty-five check-posts of the FC have been removed in the non-border areas as indicated by the Balochistan government.
Exercise of delimitation of boundaries under discussion between the Balochistan government and the Ministries of Defence and Interior.
JUDICIAL ENQUIRY ON GWADAR: The Balochistan High Court has nominated a judge to hold an enquiry into the allocation of Gwadar land. The Law Ministry constituted a commission on July 8, 2011.
SCHOLARSHIP QUOTA: Seventy-five scholarships have so far been awarded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). About 450 scholarships will be awarded during 2011-2012. The HEC has prepared a PC-I to award 600 scholarships at a cost of Rs 3.56 billion.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME: The Youth Affairs Ministry has introduced a special internship programme for 15,000 youths. The programme received 17,956 applications, of which 2,841 applications have been verified by the HEC and 341 interns have already been selected.
MEGA PROJECTS: Technical training projects to local youth and their absorption in the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and special economic zones. About 115 local youths were trained and appointed to the GPA in 2005. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTEC) approved two short-term projects of skill development and currently 5,080 youths are getting training in various trades.
ROYALTY FORMULA: Ten percent of the net profit generated from the province’s natural resources will be spent on development projects in the area. The projects will be open to scrutiny by third-party auditors; data on the profitability of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) will be provided to the Balochistan government for review; a comprehensive proposal requires the Petroleum Ministry and the Balochistan government to work out the plan.
FREE ECONOMIC ZONES IN GWADAR: The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and the Balochistan government will launch export processing zones (EPZ) and industrial zones. The PSA is ready to commence work. The federal government approved an area of 1,000 acres for the EPZ, which is enhanced by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to 46,000 acres. A 16-member advisory committee, which met on February 25, 2011, has been constituted.
Around 121,637 acres on the eastern side of Jinnah Avenue will be declared “economic zone”, and development work will begun on 3,000 acres of the Balochistan Industrial Estate.
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has extended the poverty survey to all 30 district of Balochistan. The survey has been completed in 26 districts, except Awaran, Khuzdar, Mastung and Panjgur, where security issues were a problem. Some 439,591 beneficiaries have been declared eligible, and cash payments will be made to 140,663 beneficiaries. Rs 4.233 billion have been disbursed.
SUI DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE: Category One: Roads, buildings, water supply and civic amenities to be made in Sui at a cost of Rs 1.29 billion.
Category Two: Projects to provide natural gas and electricity to Sui villages will cost Rs 230 million. The federal government has committed to providing the required funds. The Balochistan government will submit the PC-I of the project.
Special incentives for local tribes of Kohlu facilitating oil and gas exploration in the area:
A Kohlu Development Package has been proposed by the Balochistan government. Ongoing schemes financed through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) cost Rs 7 billion.
New schemes costing Rs 4.225 billion have been introduced. The Balochistan government has to prepare the PC-1 of the project and the federal government has to identify finances.
SMALL DAMS: The Water and Power Ministry has proposed five dams: Hingol, Naulong, Winder, Pelar and Garuk. The expenditure on the projects during 2010-11 has been Rs 489.7 million, while Rs 2.75 billion have been allocated for the year 2011-12. There is an engineering survey underway on Garuk Dam, and PC-II has also been approved.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS: Most of the Assembly’s resolutions have been implemented, including employment in Pakistan Navy and Coast Guard for the youth of Balochistan. However, the appointment and training of engineers from Balochistan at Gwadar Port has yet to take place.
(Part-1)