Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan by area, covers 44 percent of the national territory and is rich in natural resources such as minerals, gas, gold, and silver. However, despite the abundance of resources, the province remains plagued by poverty and neglect. Sui gas, the largest natural gas field in Pakistan, is located in Balochistan, but the people of the province continue to rely on wood for fuel even in the 21st century.
As the owner of these resources, Balochistan should be a prosperous and attractive province, but the reality is quite different. The province suffers from a lack of good roads, functioning institutions, and job opportunities. Despite its contribution to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Balochistan still struggles to access good roads. The roads in the province are in poor condition, leading to many accidents and loss of life.
Moreover, the rural areas of Balochistan, where 80% of the population is settled, lack proper hospitals. In emergency cases, doctors often direct patients to the nearest city, but the broken roads of the province make it difficult for patients to reach the hospitals on time, resulting in the loss of many lives.
The province’s long roadblocks also lead to frequent collisions between daily buses and vehicles, causing numerous road accidents. People are afraid to travel on these buses, and accidents continue to occur, raising the question of when the number of accidents will decrease in Bałochistan.
The roads of a country reflect the level of its advancement, and Bałochistan is yet to reach its full potential. However, each step taken by the federal and provincial governments towards reforms in Bałochistan is worth noticing, for it is the only province with the capability to bridge the gap between Pakistan and prosperity if its resources are used accurately.
by Shahzaib Arz