FACTS ABOUT BALOCHISTAN

"When nobody wants to hear our voice, we're forced to make them hear it through violence. The young have taken up arms. They are fighting for their rights. They think they can't get them through a political struggle. These are not things that a good citizen says. But we are now tired. This is our last struggle" — Unknown Baloch Activist talking to "International Crisis Group"

WHAT BALOCHISTAN HAS

• A newspaper report of April 4, 2005 says, “Mineral deposits usually occur within minerogenic zones (of non-metallic minerals) and metallogenic zones (of metallic minerals). Of nine such zones in Pakistan, five are located in Balochistan. Base metal deposits, such as copper, lead and zinc, are found in Chagai, Khuzdar and Lasbela Districts. Silver and gold in association with Saindak copper ore has recently been re-assessed. Balochistan also hosts several sizeable sub-bituminous coalfields in the Quetta-Harnai-Duki region.”

• According to Pakistan Energy Book 2005, 1.5 million tons of coal was mined from Balochistan, which is 40 percent of national production.

• Balochistan has 49 percent of the total livestock in the country.

• In 2003 it produced 1.4 million tons of fruit.

• In 2002, 121,212 metric tons of fish was caught. Only 11,575 metric tons were consumed locally whereas 109,655 metric tons were available as exportable surplus.

• Asian Development document “Balochistan Economic Report (Project Number 39003-Dec 2005)” says, “39 minerals, of the recorded 50, are now being mined in the province. In FY2003 this sector yielded revenues of almost Rs 1 billion. The discovery of large copper deposits in the Chagai district, coupled with the coal and iron ore production in the province, can generate significant additional income for the provincial government.”

• These are only a few glimpses of the rich mineral resources of Balochistan. The most important one is the treasure of natural gas deposits, which turned the fate of the country in the early 1950s, benefiting the whole country except Balochistan. The 10,000 feet deep gas reserve was estimated as 10.78 trillion cubic feet. Over the past 55 years the country has consumed 8.14 TCF leaving 2.63 TCF behind, sufficient for another two decades. In 2004-05 it produced about 920 million TCF per day, yielding annually 336,493 million TCF. Providing fuel to the national economy for years, gas reached Balochistan after 25 years when Quetta first received LPG in 1976. Six decades are gone, but even today Balochistan has only 3.4 percent of gas consumers as compared to 51 percent from Punjab alone, which contributes only 4.75 percent gas. The province contributes Rs 85 billion per year through gas revenues but receives only Rs 7 billion from the federal government. What Dera Bugti received in return for the wealth it generated is evident from the UNDP Human Development Report 2003, which ranked Dera Bugti last among the 91 districts of the country on the Human Development Index. The eye-opening report reveals that among the top 31 districts on the HDI, only three belonged to Balochistan whereas the province shared 12 among the lowest 30 districts on the HDI.

WHAT WE GOT AFTER 60 YEARS

Literacy

The Balochistan province has 26.6 percent literacy against the national average of 47 percent and the corresponding figures of female literacy are 15 percent and 33 percent.

Sanitation facilities

The country provides sanitation facilities to 18 percent of the population against only 7 percent in Balochistan.

Infant mortality rate

The infant mortality rate in the country is 100 (per 1,000 live births), whereas Balochistan has 108. The national mother mortality rate is 350 (per 100,000) and the province has a frighteningly high 600.

Electricity

75 percent of the villages of the country are electrified but only 25 percent in Balochistan.
 

Poverty
According to the Pakistan Integrated Household Survey 2001-02, Balochistan has the highest poor population with 48 percent and the worst in rural areas with 51 percent living below the poverty line. There are only 32 Utility Stores throughout the province whereas Islamabad alone has 34 Utility Stores.

Source : http://www.un.org.pk/nhdr/htm_pages/cp_1.htm

Unemployment

Unemployment rate in Balochistan province is recorded around 33.4 per cent as compared to 26.8 per cent in NWFP, 19.1 per cent in Punjab and 14.4 per cent in Sindh.

Usage of Open ponds for drinking water

According to PSLM 2004-5, 52 per cent in Balochistan as compare of three per cent in Punjab, 13 in Sindh, 35 per cent in NWFP use wells and open ponds for drinking water.

Percapita GDP raise over 28 years

The Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) recently conducted a study that exposed that during the 28 years period, Punjab's per capita GDP showed a rise of 2.4 per cent a year, followed closely by the NWFP at 2.2 per cent. But Balochistan's per capita recorded an insignificant growth of 0.2 per cent against Sindh's per capita growth of 1.7 per cent. The study has found a gradual pauperisation of the two southern provinces —- Sindh and Balochistan -— and a corresponding rise in prosperity in the two northern provinces -— Punjab and the NWFP.