SUMMARY of the Article “Balochistan’s Riches,” Dawn, September 7th, 2024
The article highlights the ongoing protests by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which are demanding fundamental rights for the people of Balochistan amid the government’s focus on the province’s rich mineral resources. In December 2022, the government passed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) to attract foreign investment, particularly for projects like the Reko Diq mining initiative in Balochistan. However, the state’s failure to address the grievances of the local population creates a stark contradiction in policy. Balochistan, rich in minerals like copper, lithium, and gold, remains one of Pakistan’s poorest regions, with its resources often processed abroad, benefiting other nations. The article emphasizes that meaningful engagement with the local population, especially those protesting for justice, is essential for any successful mining operation. The long-standing issue of enforced disappearances and the lack of fundamental rights must be addressed before foreign investment can be effectively pursued. The federal government’s strategy of using force and relying on traditional power brokers like nawabs and sardars is outdated and ineffective. Instead, the state should focus on rebuilding trust with the Baloch people by ensuring equitable distribution of resources and recognizing their rightful ownership. The article points out the glaring irony that despite Balochistan’s wealth in resources, its people remain among the poorest in the world, with per capita earnings below $1,000 and the province consistently ranking at the bottom of development indices. The young women leading the BYC protests offer Islamabad an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and address these longstanding issues, urging the government to take action now.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The article discusses the protests in Balochistan led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, demanding basic rights for the people while the government focuses on the province’s rich minerals. Despite having valuable resources like copper, lithium, and gold, Balochistan remains one of the poorest regions in Pakistan. The government passed a law to attract foreign investment in mining projects, but locals feel ignored. The article stresses the need to address issues like enforced disappearances and ensure fair distribution of resources before foreign investment can succeed. The young women leading the protests offer a chance for dialogue, urging the government to act now.
SOLUTIONS to The Problem:
Engage in Meaningful Dialogue
The government should engage in sincere and meaningful dialogue with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and other local representatives to address their grievances and ensure their voices are heard.
Address Enforced Disappearances
The state must take immediate action to resolve the issue of enforced disappearances, which is a major source of discontent among the Baloch people. Establishing an independent commission to investigate and address these cases could help rebuild trust.
Ensure Equitable Distribution of Resources
The federal government should create policies that ensure the equitable distribution of Balochistan’s mineral wealth, giving the local population a fair share of the profits from mining projects like Reko Diq and Saindak.
Invest in Local Development
Invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation in Balochistan to uplift the region’s economy and improve living standards, addressing the root causes of poverty and discontent.
Promote Local Participation in Mining
Encourage the involvement of the local population in mining operations through training programs, employment opportunities, and social investment initiatives. This would make the mining sector a significant employer of Baloch people and give them a stake in the region’s development.
Re-evaluate Federal Policies
Reassess federal policies towards Balochistan, moving away from reliance on traditional power structures like nawabs and sardars, and instead focusing on direct engagement with the broader population.
Enhance Transparency in Resource Management
Ensure transparency in the management of Balochistan’s natural resources, involving local communities in decision-making processes and making information about mining operations and revenues publicly accessible.
Develop Local Processing Capabilities
Invest in developing local processing facilities for minerals in Balochistan, reducing the need to export raw materials and increasing the economic benefits for the region.
Strengthen Legal Protections for Indigenous Rights
Implement and enforce legal protections for the rights of indigenous people in Balochistan, ensuring that their land, culture, and livelihoods are respected in the face of mining operations.
Promote Long-term Stability through Trust-building
Focus on long-term stability by building trust between the state and the people of Balochistan through consistent and fair policies, rather than relying on short-term solutions or forceful measures.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is leading protests for fundamental rights in Balochistan.
- The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) was passed in December 2022 to attract foreign investment in projects like Reko Diq.
- Balochistan is rich in minerals, including copper, lithium, and gold.
- Despite its resources, Balochistan remains one of Pakistan’s poorest regions, with per capita earnings below $1,000.
- The province consistently ranks at the bottom of development indices.
- The government has traditionally relied on nawabs and sardars to control the region but is now facing mass mobilization demanding justice.
MCQs from the Article:
1. What does the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) demand in Balochistan?
A. Foreign investment
B. Fundamental rights
C. More mining projects
D. Increased military presence
2. What law did the government pass in December 2022 related to foreign investment?
A. Mining Development Act
B. Resource Distribution Act
C. Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA)
D. National Economic Revival Act
3. Which minerals are mentioned as being abundant in Balochistan?
A. Coal and Silver
B. Iron and Uranium
C. Copper, Lithium, and Gold
D. Diamond and Oil
4. What longstanding issue is a major source of discontent in Balochistan?
A. Lack of foreign investment
B. Enforced disappearances
C. Disputes over land ownership
D. High taxes
5. What is the per capita earnings of the people in Balochistan mentioned in the article?
A. $500
B. Below $1,000
C. $2,000
D. $1,500
VOCABULARY:
- Fundamental (بنیادی): Serving as a basic or essential part of something.
- Grievances (شکایات): Complaints or feelings of being treated unfairly.
- Mineral Resources (معدنی وسائل): Natural resources in the form of minerals, such as copper, gold, etc.
- Indigenous (مقامی): Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
- Mobilization (تحریک): The act of assembling and making ready for action, particularly in terms of protests or political movements.
- Sustainable (پائیدار): Capable of being maintained or continued over the long term without harming the environment or society.
- Equitable (منصفانہ): Fair and impartial, giving everyone their rightful share.
- Procurement (خریداری): The process of obtaining goods or services, usually for business purposes.
- Feasibility Studies (مطالعہ کی قابلیت): Research conducted to determine the viability of a project.
- Enforced Disappearances (جبری گمشدگیاں): The practice of making people disappear against their will, usually by government forces or authorities.
- Discontent (ناراضگی): Dissatisfaction or unhappiness with a situation.
- Inconsistent (غیر مستقل): Not staying the same throughout, contradictory.
- Revival (احیاء): The act of bringing something back to life, prominence, or activity.
- Exploitation (استحصال): The act of using something unfairly for one’s own advantage.
- Transparency (شفافیت): The quality of being open and honest; not hiding anything.
- Nawabs and Sardars (نواب اور سردار): Traditional tribal leaders in Balochistan.
- Capacities (صلاحیتیں): The abilities or potential of something or someone to perform tasks.
- Colonial History (نوآبادیاتی تاریخ): History related to the period when a country or area was controlled by a foreign power.
- Per Capita GDP (فی کس جی ڈی پی): The average economic output per person in a region.
- Human Development Index (انسانی ترقیاتی اشاریہ): A composite index measuring average achievement in human development, including life expectancy, education, and per capita income.
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dawn.com
Balochistan’s riches
Umer Farooq
IN these times, when the protesters of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) are demanding fundamental rights in Balochistan, it may appear insensitive to discuss the province’s mineral resources. However, this is precisely the moment to contextualise these resources. In December 2022, the government quietly pushed through the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA), a move aimed at paving the way for the various foreign investment initiatives, including the Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan. These projects were envisioned as the beginning of our national economic revival. However, achieving these goals seems difficult with thousands protesting across the province.
Balochistan is rich in minerals but plagued by discontent. The state appears to have failed in addressing the grievances of its people. While the government uses force to suppress dissent, it simultaneously seeks foreign investment for the region’s mineral wealth. This presents an alarming inconsistency in the federal policy.
Mining presents a rare chance for the state to rebuild trust with the people of Balochistan. But when we speak of the people, we don’t just mean the elite or those in power. We refer to those who are protesting on the streets, demanding justice. They seek fair trials, the right to see their loved ones, the freedom to choose their leaders, and the ability to voice their concerns against the centre. They fight for their rightful share of resources. The old strategy of controlling the people through nawabs and sardars has run its course. The current mass mobilisation is proof that suppressing the voices of the people is no longer a sustainable option. The state must listen, or risk losing the opportunity to heal a long-fractured relationship.
Mining presents a chance for the state to rebuild trust with Balochistan.
To engage with indigenous people has always been the foremost step in the development of a mining operation — from exploration to mine closure. This sector extends an opportunity for indigenous participation through training, employment, social investments, and procurement. These efforts could make the mining industry one of the largest private/public-sector employers of Baloch in their province. But what we see, on the contrary, is people begging for fundamental rights.
As an outcome of the various geoscience and feasibility studies, the consensus is clear that the most valuable minerals, including copper, lithium, and gold, are concentrated in some of Pakistan’s poorest regions, ex-Fata and Balochistan. Yet, instead of designing policies for local development in these areas, these resources are primarily processed abroad, with most of the export taking place to China. At this point, we lack the capabilities of manufacturing to compete globally, however, there could be some initiatives that could help gain the trust of local communities.
Securing access to minerals of Balochistan and processing is essential for a successful revival of the writ of the centre in the province. The access must be managed with care, ensuring that federal policy decisions do not overlook local engagement at any stage.
The path to utilise Balochistan’s natural resources must first pass through addressing the deep-seated grievances of the Baloch people. At the heart of their discontent lies the unresolved issue of enforced disappearances. In such a situation, conferences to attract foreign investment held in Islamabad are irrelevant until the basic human rights of the people are recognised and restored.
Once the outstanding issues of fundamental rights are adequately addressed, the conversation can shift to what is equally important: equitable sharing of the province’s natural resources with its rightful owners — the Baloch people. It’s an irony that a region home to resources like the Saindak copper-gold project, the Reko Diq mine, and the Sui gas field sees its people languishing among the world’s poorest, with per capita earnings below $1,000. When evaluating any development index — whether it’s the ratio of provincial per capita GDP to the national per capita GDP, gross regional product (GRP), Human Development Index, literacy rate, or any other measure — Balochistan consistently ranks at the bottom. This disparity demonstrates a contradiction of the federal policies that continue to neglect Balochistan’s rightful share in its own prosperity.
The young women who are leading the BYC are offering Islamabad a crucial opportunity — a chance to engage in meaningful dialogue. They are hurt. This is a call to listen with an open mind, free from prejudice, and to expand the conversation to include the rightful and just distribution of resources. The time for action is now.
The writer is a public policy specialist.
X: @umerasks
Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2024