Province of Balochistan

Balochistan is The Largest Province of Pakistan by Area

The southwestern province of Pakistan is a hard place to make a living in or travel through. It’s a place of contradictions, at once Pakistan’s largest and most sparsely inhabited region, rich in natural resources but with an economically marginalised population. Mostly stony desert and sharp mountains, its importance lies in its strategic location, sitting astride the trade routes, both ancient and modern, to Iran, Afghanistan and the Arabian Sea and Balochistan is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the southwestern region of the country. Its provincial capital and largest city is Quetta. Balochistan covers an area of 347,190 sq km. It is Pakistan's largest province by area, constituting 44% of Pakistan's total land mass. The province is bordered by Afghanistan to the north and north-west, Iran to the south-west, Punjab and Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the north-east. To the south lies the Arabian Sea. Balochistan is located on the south-eastern part of the Iranian plateau. It borders the geopolitical regions of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Balochistan lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz and provides the shortest route from seaports to Central Asia. Its geographical location has placed the otherwise desolate region in the scope of competing global interests for all of recorded history.

The capital city Quetta is situated in a densely populated portion of the Sulaiman Mountains in the north-east of the province. It is situated in a river valley near the Bolan Pass, which has been used as the route of choice from coast to Central Asia, entering through Afghanistan's Kandahar region. The British and other historic empires have crossed the region to invade Afghanistan by this route.

Balochistan is rich in exhaustible and renewable resources. It is the second major supplier of natural gas in Pakistan. The province's renewable and human resource potential has not been systematically measured or exploited due to pressures from within and without Pakistan. Local inhabitants have elected to live in towns and have relied on sustainable water sources for thousands of years. Most of the province's inhabitants are Baloch people, Pashtuns and Brahuis, although there are smaller communities of Hazaras, Sindhis, Punjabis, and other settlers such as the Uzbeks, and Turkmens. The name Balochistan means, the land of the Baloch, in many regional languages. Regardless of the fact that largely underdeveloped, the provincial economy is dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields, which supply the entire country. Gwadar Port also plays a significant role in the economic development of the province. Balochistan is noted for its unique culture, and extremely dry desert climate. The climate of the upper highlands is characterized by very cold winters and hot summers. In the lower highlands, winters vary from extremely cold in northern districts Ziarat, Quetta, Kalat, Muslim Baagh and Khanozai to milder conditions closer to the Makran coast. Winters are mild on the plains, with the temperature never falling below freezing point. Summers is hot and dry, especially in the arid zones of Chagai and Kharan districts. The plains are also very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 50 °C.The record highest temperature, 53 °C, was recorded in Sibi on 26 May 2010, exceeding the previous record, 52 °C. Other hot areas includes, Turbat, and Dalbandin. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitablele. In August 1947 the Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan immediately became part of Pakistan, followed by the princely states of Makran, Kharan, Las Bela, and the Khanate of Kalat, who agreed to accede to Pakistan in March 1948. The Khan of Kalat agreed to join Pakistan under the condition that defence, currency, foreign relations, and finance would be controlled by the federal government, but that the province would remain otherwise autonomous. The four princely states together formed the Balochistan States Union in October 1952. The enclave of Gwadar was excluded from this as it was still part of the Sultanate of Oman.

In October 1955, formation of one unit resulted in the Balochistan States Union and the Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan being merged with all the remaining provinces and princely states in other parts of Pakistan to form the province of West Pakistan. The enclave of Gwadar was purchased from Oman in October 1958 and was also merged with West Pakistan. The province was officially dissolved in 1970 and the former Balochistan States Union, former Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan were brought together to form the new province of Balochistan. The government of Pakistan later decided to incorporate Gwadar in to Balochistan in 1977, thus expanding Balochistan province to its current form.

The economy of Balochistan is largely founded on the production of natural gas, coal and other minerals. Other important economic sectors include fisheries, mining, manufacturing industries, trade and other services being made by public and private sector organisations. Tourism remains limited but has increased due to the exotic appeal of the province. Limited farming in the east and fishing along the Arabian Sea coastline provides income and sustenance for the local population. Due to the tribal lifestyle of many Baloch and Brahui people, animal husbandry and trading bazaars found throughout the province are important. Balochistan has been called a, neglected province where a majority of the population lacks amenities. Since the mid-1970s the province's share of Pakistan's GDP has dropped from 4.9 to 3.7%, and as of 2007 it had the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate, and the lowest literacy rate in the country, factors some allege have contributed to the insurgency. However, in 7th NFC awards Punjab province and Federal contributed to increase Baluchistan share more than it's entitled population based share. 

In Balochistan poverty is increasing. In 2001 to 2002 poverty incidence was at 48% and by 2005-2006 was at 50.9%. Though the province remains largely underdeveloped, several major development projects, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar, are under way in Balochistan. The port is expected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China and the Central Asian republics. Mirani Dam on the Dasht River, 50km west of Turbat in the Makran Division, is being built to provide water to expand agricultural land use by 35,000 sq km  where it would otherwise be unattainable. In the south east is an oil refinery owned by Byco International Incorporated, which is capable of processing 120,000 barrels of oil per day. A power station is situated adjacent to the refinery. Several cement plants and a marble factory are also located there. One of the world's largest ship breaking yards is situated on the coast. Balochistan's share of Pakistan's national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%. Since 1972, Balochistan's gross income has grown in size by 2.7 times. Outside Quetta, resource extraction infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan. In common with the other provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan has a parliamentary form of government. The ceremonial head of the province is the Governor, who is nominated by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the provincial Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, the province's chief executive, is normally the leader of the largest political party or alliance of parties in the provincial assembly. The unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 11 are dedicated to women and 3 reserved for non-Muslims. The judicial branch of government is performed by the Balochistan High Court, which is based in Quetta and headed by a Chief Justice. Besides dominant Pakistan wide political parties, such as the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party, Balochistan nationalist parties, such as the National Party and the Balochistan National Party, have been prominent in the province and for administrative purposes, the province is divided into six Divisions, Kalat, Makran, Nasirabad, Quetta, Sibi and Zhob. This divisional level was abolished in 2000, but restored after the 2008 election. Each Division has an appointed Commissioner. 

The six Divisions are further subdivided into 32 districts. Balochistan's population density is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. In March 2012, preliminary census figures showed that the population of Balochistan had reached 13,162,222, not including the districts of Khuzdar, Kech and Panjgur, 139.3% increase from 5,501,164 in 1998, representing 6.85% of Pakistan's total population. This was the most important increase in population by any province of Pakistan during that time period. Official estimates of Balochistan's population grew from approximately 7.45 million in 2003 to 7.8 million in 2005. A number of tribes constitute to ensure that people of Balochistan. Three major tribes are Baloch, Baloch & Brahvi,  and Pashtoon. The Balochi speaking tribes include Rind, Lashar, Marri, Jamot, Ahmedzai, Bugti Domki, Magsi, Kenazai, Khosa, Rakhashani, Dashti, Umrani, Nosherwani, Gichki, Buledi, Notazai, Sanjarani, Meerwani, Zahrozai, langove, kenazai and Khidai. Each tribe is further sub-divided into numerous branches. The tribal chief is called Sardar while head of sub-tribe is known as Malik, Takari or Mir. Sardars and Maliks are members of district and other local Jirgas according to their status. The Baloch, believed to have originally come from Arabia or Asia minor, can be split into to two branches: the Sulemani and Mekrani as distinct from the Brahvis who mostly concentrate in central Balochistan. Among the eighteen major Baloch tribes, Bugtis and Marris are the main ones who are settled in the buttresses of the Sulemania. The Talpur of Sind aIso claims their Baloch origin. Brahvi speaking tribe include Raisani, Shahwani, Sumulani, Sarparrah, Bangulzai, Mohammad Shahi, Lehri, Bezenjo, Mohammad Hasni, Zehri , Sarparrah, Mengal, Kurd,Sasoli, Satakzai, Lango, Rodeni, Kalmati, Jattak, Yagazehi and Qambarani , most of these tribes are bi-lingual and are quite fluent both in the Balochi and Brahvi Languages. Pashtoon tribes include Kakar, Ghilzai Tareen, Mandokhel, Sherani, Luni, Kasi and Achakzai.

Balochistan, despite its scarce population, has an uncommon racial and tribal diversity. Most of the people in the cities and towns understand and speak more than two languages. In addition to Balochi, Pashtoo and Brahvi, the majority of the population understands and speaks Urdu, the national language. In Kachhi and Sibi districts, people speak Saraiki and Sindhi. Quetta city, the confluence point of all linguistic groups accommodates not only Urdu, Balochi, Pashtoo, Brahvi and Sindhi speaking people but Darri and Persian speaking ones as well. Dehwar tribe of Sarawan sub-division in Kalat, also speaks a language derived from Persian.

Cultural landscape of Balochistan portrays various ethnic groups. Though people speak different languages, there is a similarity in their literature, beliefs, moral order and customs. The cementing factor is religion which provides a base for unity and common social order. Brahvi, Balochi and Pashtoon tribes are known for their hospitality. Guest is accorded, is held in high esteem and considered a blessing from God. Better off people even slaughter sheep or goat for their guest. Sometimes, it so happens that where there are more houses, the guest is deemed to be the guest of the whole village. This open handedness is the loving feature of the tribal people and is not as deep in the city or town dwellers. Another adorable feature of Balochistan culture is faithfulness and sincerity in all relationships. There is not any place or respect for unfaithful people in prevalent moral order. If fidelity is reciprocated with disloyalty or betrayal it is never forgotten. Marriages are solemnized in presence of Mullah, a religious teacher, and witnesses. Life partners are generally selected within the family, constituting all close relatives, or tribe. Except a negligible fraction of love marriages, all marriages are classified. Divorce rate is quite low.

A lot of marriage rituals are celebrated in separate tribes. In some tribes, takings of, Valver, a sum of money paid by the groom to his to be wife’s family, also exist. But this custom is now gradually dying out since it has given rise to many social problems. The birth of a male child is taken as a source of p ride since he is though t to be the defender of this family and tribe.

The mode of dress among the Balochi, Pashtoon and Brahvi tribes is very similar having a couple of minor dissimilarities. Turban is the common headwear of the men. Wide loose shalwar, a bit similar to loose trousers, and knee-long shirts are worn by all. The dress of the woman consists of the typical shirt having a capacious pocket in front. The shirt normally has embroidery work with embedded small round mirror pieces. Big, Dopatta or Chaddar, a long rectangular piece of cloth cascading down the shoulders and used to cover head, is used by the women. There are religious and social festivals celebrated by the people of Balochistan. Two major religious festivals are Eid-ul-Azha and Eid-ul-Fiter. On these festivals people adorn their houses, wear new dresses, cook special dishes and see each other. Eid-Meladun-Nabi is another sacred festival. It is observed of the Holy Prophet’s birthday. Numerous colorful social festivals are also a source of jubilation. Sibi festival that traces its roots to Mehergar, an archeological site of ancient human civilization, attracts people from across the country. It is attended by ordinary folks, ministers and other government officials. Folk music performance, cultural dances, handicrafts stalls, cattle shows and a number of other amusing activities present a perfect riot of color. Buzkashi is a peculiar festival showing valour of Balochistan people. It is celebrated on horse-back by two teams that use their skills to snatch a goat from the each other.