August 14, 2006	Monday	Rajab 18, 1427

OFFICIALS now claim that the fifth insurgency has been quelled by military operation launched by the government in December and its writ has been established in the tribal belt of Dera Bugti and Kohlu in Balochistan.

The military action has not been without its costs in terms of collateral damage, human sufferings and economic losses. The blowing up of railway, power and gas infrastructure or bombings carried out during last eight months were not without its economic costs. According to the Chief Minister Jam Yousuf, the province’s share in gas royalty has been reduced to Rs1.5 billion due to reduction in gas production hit by blasting of gas pipelines.

The current crisis embraces economics, social and political dimensions. The province has always been excluded from decision-making at the federal level, its pressing financial needs have always been ignored and its vast economic potentials have not been developed. The Sardari system has not been abolished but strengthened by successive regimes in Islamabad to keep its tight hold on Balochistan.

The prevailing socio-economic conditions in the province and the level of deprivation of masses negate any welfare planning by policy-makers.

In the post-military operation scenario, the sense of deprivation prevailing among the Baloch will continue to intensify( which may give rise to another insurgency in future) unless the local people get a fair treatment at the federal level and legitimate share in the various development schemes in the province.

At present, the people are reeling under extreme poverty. Over 50 per cent of the population lives below poverty line. The severe droughts in recent years have increased vulnerability of the poor. The province has the highest percentage of the highly deprived, both in terms of income and other indicators of poverty. Deprived of its legitimate resources, the provincial government is forced to run its affairs on loans. The federal government is getting Rs78 billion annually in revenue from gas fields in the province.

The ongoing development schemes are yet to make a dent in the prevailing poverty and fruits of development are yet to trickle down to local people. It is time to focus on restoration and improvement of law and order, abolition of sardari system and promotion of education with special emphasis on technical education.

The security environment is vitally linked to economic development. It is not merely the Dera Bugti and Kohlu that presents a challenging environment for maintenance of law and order, but the situation needs to be improved in whole of the province.

The incidents of waylaying and looting of vehicles on highways, daylight snatching of motor bikes and kidnapping of citizens for ransom have recorded an increase over the past five years. These incidents have become routine in many districts including the home district of former Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali.

The tribal violence has not only destroyed peace but also hampered development works and projects in many districts. Armed tribal clashes between the rival tribes or between the sub-tribes have also contributed to backwardness and slow course of development.

A Sardar enjoys authoritarian position in tribal society. The hierarchy of tribe and sub-tribe is reflected in various forms of oppression within the society at various levels. A Sardar’s power in the tribal system has three elements which comprise the inherited, acquired or purchased land, privileged source of income and the authority over succession of lower ranks in the tribal hierarchy.

Sardari was formally abolished in the System of Sardari (Abolition) Act, 1976, which prescribed three years’ punishment to anyone exercising the right of Sardar. The Act says in its preamble: ’The system of Sardari, prevalent in certain parts of Pakistan, is the worst remnant of the oppressive feudal and tribal system which, being derogatory to human dignity and freedom, is repugnant to the spirit of democracy and equality as enunciated by Islam and enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and opposed to the economic advancement of the people”. But the 1976 Act was never enforced in letter and spirit since its approval by the National assembly during Z.A Bhutto’s regime.

However, the local people need sardar’s verification to get local certificate for their children’s future. This notification has in fact legalised a Sardar’s position among the people who do not want to be a part of centuries old Sardari system. They are compelled to extend allegiance to a Sardar.

The importance of local/domicile certificate cannot be denied in seeking government employment or admission to some government institute or getting a national identity card. Such legal formalities that strengthen the Sardari need to be abolished. The Sardari Abolition Act,1976 remains unimplemented.

Social sector development is a prime need. Education achievement reflects the province’s overall low development indicators. Literacy level at 37 per cent lags far behind those of other provinces, and the national average of 53 per cent. According to an estimate, the rural literacy rate (23 per cent) is significantly lower than the urban rate (54 per cent), and literacy among rural females (10 per cent) is about one-third of rural males (37 per cent).

According to another estimate, there are a total of 15,000 settlements in the province. Out of these, 7,000 have schools giving formal education. In most of the districts in the province, the literacy rate among the female is even less than four per cent.

Balochistan government has a limited room to increase its social sector expenditures, partly because of its high debt-service burden. The expenditures mostly go to salaries, while non-salary expenditures are well below the norms for the effective functioning of the social sectors.

Of the budgeted revenue receipts for FY2005, close to 95 per cent had to come from federal government transfers. The provincial tax base is narrow and limited. The provincial government has a large stock of high-interest debt, and in FY2004, Rs2.6 billion, or 10.7 per cent of its total current expenditure, went to debt servicing.

The province is in dire need of both— financial and technical— support to improve primary enrolment and completion rates, reduce gender disparities, and encourage the non-governmental organizations and private sector to participate in the provision of education and health.