QUETTA: Centuries old backwardness is still rampant in all parts of Balochistan where the people are still residing in Stone Age expecting nothing from the modern and nuclear State of Pakistan. At the same time, there is complete frustration among the educated youth losing hope that the State will come to their rescue finally and change their life by providing them acceptable jobs to the millions. Around 25,000 low grade jobs announced by the Provincial Government will not radically change the economic condition of the broad masses as millions of people had the right expectation.

For the past many decades, particularly after the partyless elections of General Ziaul Haq, the development funds both of the Provincial Government and the MPAs had left no impact on the provincial economy, or it had increased the revenue of the Provincial Government.

Whatever increase registered in the revenue of the Balochistan Government is Federal share, including the enhanced share from the NFC Awards, direct or straight transfer of funds, Federal grants or contributions from the friendly countries and international donor agencies.

There is a nominal increase in the provincial revenue in the department of Mines and Minerals where the Saindak Metals is contributing some funds as royalty to the Province from Saindak copper and gold or some activities reported in the mining sector.

For the past four decades, the revenue from agriculture is static and it had not moved forward. According to a rough estimate, the people engaged in primary production are paying merely Re One per acre of land, both canal irrigated or rain-fed agricultural properties. Thus substantial revenue from the agriculture is doomed till the Kachhi Canal is made functional; at least part of it’s in the Bugti Tribal Territory.

Baluchistan’s economy is doomed if we depends on provincial resources for future development or trying to meet the needs of the growing population, particularly the educated youth coming out of the educational institutions in tens of thousands after every academic year.

The Government of Pakistan will have to come forward in boosting the provincial economy with a stimulated economic growth in a big way taking the country out of the present economic mess. The economic stimulus should come earlier before the country is gripped in much bigger and unforeseen crises, both political and economic, or the hostile western countries started waging economic war against Pakistan for one reason or the other.

The other day, the Government had announced a very surprising package of Rs 110 billion for the exporters/industrialists or erstwhile textile mill owners who had always been ‘the rightful claimants’ of special packages of billions right from birth of this country some 70 years ago.

Whenever the Traders League or traders’ friendly Government came to power in Pakistan, the rulers definitely helped them in a big way consolidating their firm control over business and further strengthening their political power over the hundreds of million people.

It is more significant when the special package was announced for the exporters/ industrialists when elections are close and the Government by the traders having an eye on the future election expecting huge funds as generous donations from them to inflict crushing defeat to all their political opponents in a ‘free, fair and transparent elections’ using their massive money power against their penniless candidates, mostly social or political activists.

Thus the package for the exporters/industrialists is highly politically motivated and it had nothing to do with the compensating the economic losses or improving exports with the support of public money or taxpayers’ money.

The genuine opposition parties, if they truly love their own political constituents, should come forward and stop the Government from paying the industrialists under the cover of exporters and force the rulers to divert the huge fund for economic development in the most backwards regions of Pakistan—Balochistan, rural Sindh, Southern Punjab and least developed regions of Potohar.

A former Chief Minister of Balochistan was virtually snubbed and insulted by the sitting Finance Minister, who is believed to be the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan on economic and financial matters, when he demanded a special development package for Balochistan for being the ignored and the highly discriminated province of Pakistan.

The Finance Minister asked the Chief Minister of Balochistan to approach the National Finance Commission and face the music of other smaller province for making such demands. Now the Government sought approval from which institutions, the Parliament of Pakistan, for announcing a huge package for the industrialists under the cover of exporters. Which NFC had approved the Government assistance for the vested interests are known as exploiters to a section of Pakistani people?

The Federal Government should come forward with a clear economic development plan for Balochistan establishing industrial units in the public sector in the first phase so that the private sector is motivated to following the investment in the public sector in an area like Balochistan.

Under the present security climate in and around Pakistan, there are bleak chances that foreign countries and foreign investors will ever come to Balochistan and make significant investment. Chinese are more shrewd people and real businessmen and they will be the last to come to Balochistan and make significant investment in industry.

They will prefer trading with Pakistan instead of opting for long term investment in production and industry. Thus this job should be done by the State of Pakistan, if at all it is interested in development of Balochistan and bring it at par with the Punjab province in next two decades.

Pakistan model is fit for Balochistan. When Pakistan was created, there was zero foreign investment in Pakistan for security reasons. Thus the Federal Government did the entire investment in industrial development in early 1950s and in a planned manner. When the mills become profitable or earning huge profit, it was handed over to the industrialists and investors for operation to this date. The Pakistan model should be adopted if the Government is interested in development of Balochistan.

Thus the Government should announce Rs 500 billion industrial package for Balochistan for establishing industrial units in the Baloch Mainland specifically barring all peripheral or bordering areas ensuring the fruits of development for the local and indigenous people first and later on for others.

Every year, the Federal Government should invest Rs 100 billion exclusively on industrial development ensuring job opportunities in a phased manner with relative development of the areas. The package should spread over to five years. It should be mandatory for all future Governments in power to implement it honestly barring all crooks and cheats in all walks of human activities.