QUETTA: “All we want is development and peace; it doesn’t matter if that happens within the Pakistani federation or in an independent Balochistan,” says Adil, a student of business administration at the Balochistan University in Quetta. Having borne the brunt of years of conflict between the military and Baloch nationalists, many Baloch youth would agree with this view as do some of Adil’s university friends. For the turmoil has meant dwindling education opportunities and job prospects.
Some are more vocal about their rights. “Ask not what Pakistan has given you, ask what you can give to Pakistan,” says a distraught Nadeem, another student at the university and adds: “But what can we give when we have nothing? We want our rights and control over our resources to develop our province. Only then would we be in a position to contribute to Pakistan’s overall development.”
There is a keen sense of awareness of the NFC (National Finance Commission) award that establishes the share of financial resources for the provinces. The students assert that the poverty and backwardness of their province should be adequately factored into any equation that is worked out for resource-sharing.
“We don’t want Balochistan to separate from Pakistan; it is our country and we love it,” says Nadeem. “What can Balochistan achieve if it is outside the state? It would be invaded by external forces eyeing our resources. He adds: “All we want is our rights and that the revenue generated by us is spent on us. If that happens Balochistan will develop and the youth will get educational and job opportunities in a peaceful environment.”
Unfortunately, the current state of education belies such hopes. Balochistan has a dearth of educational institutions, a fact that is evident not only to residents of Balochistan but also to Baloch youth who are forced to go to other parts of the country for higher education. This, according to Amir, a resident of Lyari in Karachi, is the basic reason why Baloch youth remain backward. “We may be few in numbers but we have a right to education in Balochistan itself. If an efficient communication network, connecting small towns and villages to larger cities, is provided, the youth of Balochistan could have access to schools and colleges.”
According to him, many Baloch youth migrate from various Baloch towns and cities to Karachi in search of better educational opportunities. However, these attempts to enhance their knowledge have not always met with success. “First universities in Karachi would accept students with an Intermediate certificate from Karachi. Now due to a change of policy a Matric certificate from Karachi is imperative,” says Amir.
In Quetta, political troubles on campus are a source of worry for many Baloch youth. “We pay the price of other people’s feuds,” Adil, the business administration student, lashes out. “Our studies are affected as our courses are disturbed and discontinued. We spend four years on a degree that normally should take only two years to complete.”
Growing insecurity on campuses has made the lives of the students miserable. “In the morning when I come to the university, there is no guarantee that I will go home alive,” says Nadeem, asserting that exposure to continuous violence and Quetta’s unpredictable situation has made him extremely religious. “I recite my prayers continuously as there could be a bomb explosion on or off campus,” he says. “I would surely leave Pakistan if I got the chance. Even though I love my country, I want my living conditions to improve. This, despite my education, does not seem to be possible if I continue to live in Quetta.”
Although living in Karachi, Amir hails from the port city of Gwadar where he said he had previously applied for a job in the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA). “I applied to SMEDA, cleared the written exam and did well in the interview. But I was not selected. Three other people who took the test with me and were called for interviews weren’t selected either. When we probed the matter it was revealed that someone who had neither taken the exams nor was present for the interview was given the post.
Since I belong to Gwadar and had done well in the exam and interview, I was confident of getting the job but my hopes were dashed.”
Solutions have been put forward. A Baloch economist working abroad believes that opportunities for Baloch youth could be created if the government formulated policies making the recruitment of a certain number of Baloch locals by multinational, government and semi-government organisations mandatory. “Considering their educational level, company profits may not be as high as expected. Nevertheless, it would be an important step towards addressing Baloch woes.”
Saleem, a Baloch working for a private organisation in Karachi, is of the view that the only step forward is for Islamabad and Baloch militants to hold talks. “Fleeing to the hills does not help. It is only when various actors in a conflict resort to dialogue that problems are solved,” he says.