MAKRAN is more populous than other areas of Balochistan. Its problems are somehow peculiar, keeping in view the higher level of literacy rate, general awareness about events, things and problems, better understanding of day-to-day issues.

Three days in central Makran, mainly Dasht and Kech Valley, updated our perceptions through interaction about the issues and the problems being faced by the common people. Primarily, Makran is facing the problem of retarded economic growth following the events in the Gulf, mainly the exodus of Baloch immigrants from the UAE and Sultanate of Muscat.

Illiterate and semi-literate workforce was asked to take back their families while most of them lost their jobs as a policy of the government in the UAE. The Muscat government started recruiting local people, replacing the Baloch soldiers who fought the Dhofar insurgents, backed by defunct South Yemen, for decades. Most of them were retired from the Muscat army.

The retired military personnel had enough money but most of them lost it as there was no scope for investment, nor were banks, financial institutions or the government, in general, came to the help of those ex-servicemen from the Muscat army about how to invest their millions. This helplessness had a deep impact on those who found themselves without any economic any activity.

There goes a story: a deranged man was found controlling the road traffic at the main intersection of Turbat, shouting at the passersby though they were not violating the traffic laws. When asked about the background of the man, I was told that he was a retired captain of the Muscat army. He had lost his million and also his senses though his children are well-off. One can find dozens of such people who lost their senses after losing their money, simply for the reason that they were not guided or helped by the state how to save their