WHEN a trust deficit spans decades, it becomes extremely difficult to bridge. While the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has aroused misgivings in Gilgit-Baltistan as well as all the provinces with smaller populations than Punjab that they will be shortchanged at the expense of the latter, Balochistan’s apprehensions are the deepest. Their fears have become a lightning rod for nationalists in the opposition as well as separatist groups. Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, reiterated the sentiment at a well-attended rally in Kharan on Sunday, saying that he saw no benefit accruing to the province from the implementation of CPEC projects. The much-vaunted “game changer for the region”, he alleged, would only benefit Punjab where related development projects have already been launched while the Baloch had for 70 years been deprived of even basic facilities.

While detractors would likely dismiss this view by saying that nationalists would by default adopt such a stance in order to stay relevant, that would betray a gross misreading of the situation and the sentiments of the Baloch — something that can be found in abundance in this country. Of the 2,600km that constitute CPEC’s western alignment, 1,300km runs through Balochistan, not to mention the fact that the deepwater port of Gwadar which lies on its shores is the centrepiece of the project. Yet the province is a bystander in the planning and rollout of CPEC within its boundaries. Certainly, Sindh and KP, and GB in particular, have complained of the same to some extent from time to time. However, in Balochistan, the sidelining of the people’s ‘voice’ takes on another dimension altogether. For many Baloch, it is the perpetuation of their grievances against the centre and their resentment that real control over their resources has long been exerted by the establishment rather than the province itself — even after the NFC award. The problem thus is a political one, not a socioeconomic one alone that will be resolved by giving some CPEC-related job opportunities to the people. The government must engage with nationalist organisations like BNP-M, even if it does not agree with their views, and consider their input with regard to CPEC if this mega infrastructure project is indeed to be a harbinger of prosperity. It would also be sound long-term strategy: after all, despite the attendant risks from separatist elements, the party has chosen to remain within the electoral mainstream. For that, and for many more reasons, it should be heard.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2017