ISLAMABAD: A group of young lawyers from Balochistan on Friday commended the interest shown in Gwadar’s development but highlighted the need for capacity building of local residents, saying the initiative would otherwise be lost on them.

“The majority of the population living in the sleepy town of Gwadar are fishermen who will soon be left redundant if they did not learn or impart themselves with the skills needed to catch up and remained useful when the city [becomes] a free economic zone, especially with the opening of a deep sea port to connect with the rest of the world through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” said Abdul Majeed Dashti – a lawyer from the Kech district.

Mr Dashti is part of a delegation of 30 people who travelled from Balochistan to attend a two week fellowship for young lawyers offered by the Research Society of International Law (RSIL).

According to the president of RSIL, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, the fellowship was designed to strengthen the capacity of Balochsitan’s bar associations after the terrorist attack in Quetta on Aug 8, 2016.

The lawyers include five women who applied from Avaran, Kech, Quetta, Gwadar Panjgoor. The delegation was taught subjects including international law, international dispute resolution, contract law, international trade law, intellectual property rights, capital market, mining laws, corporate and competition regime and so on.During their stay in Islamabad, the delegation also met with the chief justice of Pakistan, the Senate chairman and other officials.

Mr Dashti’s views were echoed by Naseer Baloch from Gwadar, who feared locals would become be disconnected to the upcoming developments in the area if they did not acquaint themselves with the tools of the day.

He, however, also criticised the lack of infrastructure development to benefit locals.

Kech District Bar Association president Qasim Ali said the law and order situation has improved in the province when Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was chief minister because he was neither a Nawab nor a Sardar. He said incumbent chief minister Sanaullah Zehri is also trying his best.

He said, we yearn for a peaceful environment in Balochistan like what is experienced in Islamabad and Lahore, adding that evenings in cities like Kech are still somewhat unsafe.

Meanwhile, Farooq Samuel praised the report by Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s one-person commission on terrorism in Quetta, saying the commission reflected the aspirations of Quetta’s people, and particularly the city’s lawyers, by highlighting various lacunae and shortcomings in its report.

“I wish the Quetta commission report would be implemented so that some good may also come to the people of the province,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2017