Balochistan, contributing enormously in terms of geography and enriching natural resources, is confronting a myriad of challenges. The province is located in an ideal geographic position which further enhances its geostrategic importance.
Despite its importance at home and in the world, its hapless population continues to face mounting challenges of poverty, educational crisis, health emergency, gross violation of basic human rights, and growing unemployment. Since its amalgamation to Pakistan, the status of the province, in human development index, has remained more than that of a piece of paper that could easily be thrown into the dustbin.
Today the province is the most backward in terms of Human Development Index [HDI], and the poorest province in the country. On account of growing education and health backwardness, it continues to take an awful condition. Now, the population has entirely faded from tales of progress, whereupon a profound feeling of separation and alienation is taking place at breakneck pace and this, if immediate measures are not adopted, may yield painful consequences for the country.
From every perspective, either it is modern education or a good healthcare system, it depicts a disappointing picture of a distant dream. Furthermore, the gross violation of fundamental human rights, that are duly enshrined in the basic document of the country, is taking an unbearable scenario in the region. If we cast a glance on education, it shows that the whole system cannot deliver free and fair education to its hapless inhabitants. Due to declining education resources, a huge segment of the population is deprived of even primary education. The overall literacy rate is approximately 46 per cent. Out of 3.6 million, only 1.3million children attend schools; which is shocking. This reveals the utmost incompetence of government at provincial and federal level. Balochistan is an integral part of the country and it must be treated accordingly.
Likewise, in terms of basic healthcare, the province is lagging substantially behind the rest of the country. The health indicators in Balochistan are poorer than any other province. Additionally, the basic health care system is almost entirely paralyzed. The government hospitals are not well equipped with modern medical facilities which are crucial for uninterrupted medical care. For instance, infant and maternal mortality are higher in the province. Therefore, the basic health structure is in a devastating situation, especially in rural areas, where people face mounting health challenges due to unavailability of medical units. In this condition, it should map out a grand health strategy to establish hospitals and healthcare units_ particularly in rural areas to ensure its constitutional and moral responsibilities.
Similarly, its people are massively deprived from their fundamental and constitutional rights. As the heart-wrenching incident of Hayat Baloch is a present example of human rights abuses in Balochistan. On the other hand, the killing of Shaheena Shaheen, who was a social activist and a journalist, has created hue and cry in the province. After all, these gloomy happenings are not a novel invention, the people have been facing the heavy hand of brutalism since ages.
Wherever eyes can see there exists nothing but fearful and disappointed faces brimful of fear and anger. It is high time for the government to abstain from fabricated claims in order to deliver on practical grounds. The plights of Balochistan will yield inescapable consequences, if not addressed properly. Thus, the state must act now or never to fulfill its constitutional as well as moral responsibilities.
