Balochistan constitutes the largest province in terms of land area, encompassing approximately 43% of the total state territory. However, its population is comparatively small, estimated at around 17–18 million, or roughly 5% of the total population. Despite its territorial size, the province remains the least populous among the provinces. Regarding key development indicators, including socioeconomic conditions, political stability, governance, and other critical factors, Balochistan continues to experience a significantly underdeveloped and deteriorating situation.
The province retains several natural resources and is blessed with a strategic geopolitical location that enhances its importance. The large 750-mile coastline along the Indian Ocean makes it more prominent due to transitional routes and integration with the global community. Natural resource-rich regions, such as Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East, encircle Balochistan. Hence, its geopolitical position renders the province more prominent for international trade; yet, it remains a hub of enduring challenges, as political unrest, an ineffective economy, and law-and-order issues have persisted since the province was granted provincial status on March 30, 1970. With several political turmoils, the province is impeded in its process of progress, experiencing vulnerable institutions and struggling to withstand economic and social pressures, particularly after 2025.
Distinctively, being the world’s third-largest proven copper reserve, alongside the Reko Diq and Saindak deposit sites respectively, Balochistan and its inhabitants are deprived of basic necessities, as many communities remain underserved and marginalized. Often, the indigenous population of rural areas travel two miles away from their destinations for clean water.
Natural gas was discovered in 1952 in Sui, located in the Dera Bugti District of Balochistan, and has since supplied energy across the region (Survey Reports, 2011). Despite this, only ten cities in the province have been provided access to this resource, generating significant dissatisfaction among the local population. Furthermore, Balochistan is reported to forfeit a substantial portion of its legitimate revenue annually in the form of the Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) and royalty payments. Due to the relatively low wellhead prices for the province’s gas fields, the per-unit contribution of Balochistan to the overall GDS exceeds that of gas-producing regions in other provinces.
According to researcher Akbar Baluch (2012), Balochistan’s total contribution to the GDS is approximately 14.723 billion rupees, accounting for around 65 percent of the total. However, after the deduction of a 2 percent collection fee, the province receives only about 35 percent of the GDS distributed among the provinces. This underscores the discrepancy between Balochistan’s contribution and its share of revenue, highlighting broader concerns regarding fiscal equity and the governance of natural resources within the federal system.
Besides this, Balochistan is home to diverse ethnic and linguistic populations, including the Baloch, Pashtun, and Hazara communities, who have been residing in the region for centuries. Unfortunately, due to inadequate attention from authorities and an undemocratic political environment, the masses have become disheartened and unwilling to participate in political activities. Many believe they have been excluded from mainstream politics because transparent electoral laws are not being implemented. Political patronage in the region remains concentrated in the hands of sardars, tribal leaders, and drug lords, who further aggravate the province’s already severe challenges and reinforce the population’s reluctance toward political engagement.
Presumably, the contributing factors in Balochistan are rooted in long-standing structural problems that remain unaddressed and have progressively worsened over time, becoming major impediments to the province’s development. The assassination of Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006 further deteriorated the law-and-order situation, ignited widespread backlash, and pushed the political climate into a more dire and volatile condition. The incident also revived other deep-seated tensions whose impacts continue to persist to this day.
The inconsistent socioeconomic framework in Balochistan is a primary contributor to poverty, exploitation, and various social challenges within the region. The majority of the population depends on livestock, cross-border trade with Iran, and oil-related imports and exports as their principal sources of livelihood. However, periodic border closures have repeatedly disrupted these economic activities, leaving many households without reliable income.
In this context, one of the locals shares his opinion regarding the border closure on the basis of the authorities’ perspective:
“A significant portion of these income channels that earn through border trade, which are considered by authorities, involves the illegal trade of smuggling, undermining the sustainability of indigenous economic practices and the local social fabric. Therefore, the government should provide alternative sources of income that ensure sustainability, so that our children don’t go hungry.”
This statement underscores the widespread economic distress and social grievance prevailing in the province.
Moreover, governance challenges combined with overwhelming economic pressures have further weakened institutions, particularly with regard to impartiality, corruption, bribery, and nepotism. Effective governance is essential for maintaining balance within society, as it involves sound decision-making, the responsible exercise of authority, and the efficient allocation of resources and administrative mechanisms.
Nevertheless, the provincial government has failed to regulate and strengthen key institutional structures, which is a major reason the province continues to face persistent governance-related challenges.
To sum up, Balochistan remains one of the most underdeveloped provinces. Despite its abundance of natural resources, it continues to lag behind in terms of development indicators, peace, prosperity, and overall socio-economic progress.
