KARACHI: Balochistan has not been able to utilize its natural resources fully to boost its share in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, and has also failed to create a well-organized trade and industrial base to improve the socio-economic condition of the province’s people. An idea of the poor economic conditions in Balochistan can be had from the fact that no firm data about the trade potential of the province and its share in the overall economic activities of the country is available with any of the government trade or statistics organizations.
Repeated attempts made by Dawn to find facts and figures from the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) proved futile. The official website of Pakistan (www.pakistan.gov.pk) indicates that Balochistan website is not accessible as it is still under construction, and the site of the Balochistan Bureau of Statistics is not available on the web.
Despite being the largest province in terms of area its share in the overall trading activities of the country has been very nominal. Even an increase of 20 per cent in developmental funds to Rs17.6 billion in the budget 2004-05 from Rs16 billion in 2003-04 has failed to bring about a radical change in the situation.
The province has no major fertilizer, textile, sugar, cement industry but has potential in the mineral sector. One of the largest gas fields of the country is in the province. It is said to have huge reserves of many minerals, including oil, gold, precious stones, copper, coal, chromites, granites, marbles, etc. Further, the province has a semi-developed livestock sector. It also grows fruits and nuts (dry fruits). Primarily for security concerns, foreign companies are reluctant to invest in these potentially profitable sectors.
Though no statistics are available regarding the size of trade, evidence suggests that its share is very small in terms of percentage of the country’s total trade. Informal trade is prevalent along the Afghanistan border with the support of influential tribesmen and different agencies. The exchequer suffers losses of millions of rupees on account of this illegal trade.
The province’s strategic location gives it added significance in view of rapidly changing geo-politics of the region. However, lack of government attention and investment has kept it behind other provinces in terms of development. The province’s economic potential could only be realized through infrastructure development and more spending on the social sector.
A Karachi-based brokerage house, quoting Federal Bureau of Statistics data, says Balochistan produced 1,791,756 tons of coal in 2003-04, followed by marble (242,860 tons), lime stone (229231 tons) and 358,246 mmcfd of natural gas. The province is contributing the bulk of the country’s gas supply (almost 60 per cent), but a tussle with the centre over royalty claims is yet to be resolved.
If given support in terms of managing water, availability of farm credit, good seeds, pesticides and fertilizer, the agriculture sector may perform well. It could also provide employment to the local people.
