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Balochistan, Pakistan

(Redirected from Southwest Pakistan)
This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 17 November 2024.
This article is about the province of Pakistan. For the geographic region, see Balochistan. For other uses, see Balochistan (disambiguation).

Balochistan (/bəˈlɒtʃɪstɑːn, bəˌlɒtʃɪˈstɑːn, -stæn/; Balochi: بلۏچستان[citation needed]; Urdu: بلوچستان, Urdu pronunciation: [bəloːt͡ʃɪst̪ɑːn] ⓘ) is a province of Pakistan. Located in the southwestern region of the country, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land area but is the least populated one. It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the north-east, Punjab to the east and Sindh to the south-east; shares international borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north; and is bound by the Arabian Sea to the south. Balochistan is an extensive plateau of rough terrain divided into basins by ranges of sufficient heights and ruggedness. It has the world's largest deep sea port, the Port of Gwadar lying in the Arabian Sea.

Balochistan
بلوچستان
Province
Province of Balochistan
Flag of Balochistan
Flag
Official seal of Balochistan
Seal
Location of Balochistan in Pakistan
Location of Balochistan in Pakistan
Coordinates: 27°42′N 65°42′E / 27.7°N 65.7°E / 27.7; 65.7
CountryPakistan
Established1 July 1970
Capital
and largest city		Quetta
Government
 • TypeSelf-governing province subject to the federal government
 • BodyGovernment of Balochistan
 • GovernorSheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail
 • Chief MinisterSarfraz Bugti
 • Chief SecretaryShakeel Qadir Khan
 • LegislatureProvincial Assembly
 • High CourtBalochistan High Court
Area
 • Total347,190 km2 (134,050 sq mi)
 • Rank1st
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total14,894,402
 • Rank4th
 • Density43/km2 (110/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)
 • Total (2022)$20 billion (4th)[a]
 • Per Capita$1,621 (5th)
GDP (PPP)
 • Total (2022)$80 billion (4th)[a]
 • Per Capita$6,485 (5th)
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (PKT)
ISO 3166 codePK-BA
Main language(s)
  • Urdu, English (official)
Notable sports teamsQuetta Gladiators
Quetta Bears
Balochistan cricket team
HDI (2019)0.475 Increase[4]
low
Literacy rate (2020)54.5% [5]
Seats in National Assembly20
Seats in Provincial Assembly65
Divisions8
Districts35
Tehsils134
Union Councils978[6]
Websitewww.balochistan.gov.pk

Although it makes up about 44% of the land area of Pakistan, only 5% of it is arable and it is noted for an extremely dry desert climate.[7][8] Despite this, agriculture and livestock make up about 47% of Balochistan's economy.[8]

The name "Balochistan" means "the land of the Baloch". Largely underdeveloped, its economy is also dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields. Aside from Quetta, the second-largest city of the province is Turbat in the south, while another area of major economic importance is the port city of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, an emerging future business hub.[7][9]

History

Main article: History of Balochistan

Early history

 
Map showing the sites and extent of the Indus Valley civilisation. Mohenjo-Daro and Mehrgarh were among the centres of the Indus Valley Civilisation in the modern-day province. Balochistan marked the westernmost territory of the civilisation, which was one of the most developed in the old Bronze Age in the world.

Balochistan occupies the very southeasternmost portion of the Iranian plateau, the setting for the earliest known farming settlements in the pre-Indus Valley civilisation era, the earliest of which was Mehrgarh, dated at 7000 BCE,[10] within the province. Balochistan marked the westernmost extent of civilisation. Centuries before the arrival of Islam in the seventh century, parts of Balochistan were ruled by the Paratarajas, an Indo-Scythian dynasty. At certain times, the Kushans also held political sway in parts of Balochistan.[citation needed]

The Hindu Sewa Dynasty ruled parts of Balochistan, chiefly Kalat.[11][12] The Sibi Division, which was carved out of Quetta Division and Kalat Division in 1974, derives its name from Rani Sewi, the queen of the Sewa dynasty.[13]

The remnants of the earliest people in Balochistan were the Brahui people, a Dravidian speaking people. The Brahuis retained the Dravidian language throughout the millennias.[14]

Although during the Stone and Bronze Age and Alexander the Great's empire an indigenous population existed, the Baloch people themselves did not enter the region until the 14th century CE.[15] A theory of the origin of the Baloch people, the largest ethnic group in the region, is that they are of Median descent.[16]

Arrival of Islam

In 654, Abdulrehman ibn Samrah, governor of Sistan and the newly emerged Rashidun caliphate at the expense of Sassanid Persia and the Byzantine Empire, sent an Islamic army to crush a revolt in Zaranj, which is now in southern Afghanistan. After conquering Zaranj, a column of the army pushed north, conquering Kabul and Ghazni, in the Hindu Kush mountain range, while another column moved through Quetta District in north-western Balochistan and conquered the area up to the ancient cities of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan).[17] It is documented that the major settlements, falling within today's province, became in 654 controlled by the Rashidun caliphate, except for the well-defended mountain town of QaiQan which is now Kalat.

During the caliphate of Ali, a revolt broke out in southern Balochistan's Makran region.[18] In 663, during the reign of Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, his Muslim rule lost control of north-eastern Balochistan and Kalat when Haris ibn Marah and a large part of his army died in battle against a revolt in Kalat.[19]

Pre-modern era

In the 15th century, Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first Sirdar of Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani Balochistan. He was a close aide of the Timurid ruler Humayun, and was succeeded by the Khanate of Kalat, which owed allegiance to the Mughal Empire. Later, Nader Shah won the allegiance of the rulers of eastern Balochistan. He ceded Kalhora, one of the Sindh territories of Sibi-Kachi, to the Khanate of Kalat.[20][21][22] Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan Empire, also won the allegiance of that area's rulers, and many Baloch fought under him during the Third Battle of Panipat. Most of the area would eventually revert to local Baloch control after Afghan rule.

Colonial era

 
A historical sketch of Bolan Pass, Balochistan, Pakistan

In 1876, northern Baluchistan became one of the presidencies and provinces of British India in colonial India.[23] During this time from the fall of the Durrani Empire in 1823, four princely states were recognised and reinforced in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876, Robert Sandeman negotiated the Treaty of Kalat, which brought the Khan's territories, including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela, under British protection, even though they remained independent princely states.[24] After the Second Afghan War was ended by the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta, Pishin, Harnai, Sibi and Thal Chotiali to British control. On 1 April 1883, the British took control of the Bolan Pass, south-east of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat. In 1887, small additional areas of Balochistan were declared British territory.[25] In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with the Amir of Afghanistan, Abdur Rahman Khan, to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan as the boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British-controlled areas.[citation needed] Two devastating earthquakes occurred in Balochistan during British colonial rule: the 1935 Quetta earthquake, which devastated Quetta, and the 1945 Balochistan earthquake with its epicentre in the Makran region.[26] During the time of the Indian independence movement, "three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan's politics apart from Balochistan's Muslim League", such as the Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, which favoured a united India and opposed its partition.[27][28]

After independence

 
Quetta Railway Station

In British-ruled Colonial India, Baluchistan contained a Chief Commissioner's province and princely states (including Kalat, Makran, Las Bela and Kharan) that became a part of Pakistan.[29] The province's Shahi Jirga (the grand council of tribal elders[30]) and the non-official members of the Quetta Municipality,[31] according to the Pakistani narrative,[32]: 80  agreed to join Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947;[31] however, the Shahi Jirga was stripped of its members from the Kalat State prior to the vote.[32]: 81  The then-president of the Baluchistan Muslim League, Qazi Muhammad Isa, informed Muhammad Ali Jinnah that "Shahi Jirga in no way represents the popular wishes of the masses" and that members of the Kalat State were "excluded from voting; only representatives from the British part of the province voted and the British part included the leased areas of Quetta, Nasirabad Tehsil, Nushki and Bolan Agency."[32]: 81  Following the referendum, on 22 June 1947 the Khan of Kalat received a letter from members of the Shahi Jirga, as well as sardars from the leased areas of Baluchistan, stating that they, "as a part of the Baloch nation, were a part of the Kalat state too" and that if the question of Baluchistan's accession to Pakistan arise, "they should be deemed part of the Kalat state rather than (British) Balochistan".[32]: 82  This has brought into question whether an actual vote took place.[32]: 82  Political scientist Salman Rafi Sheikh, in locating the origins of the insurgency in Balochistan, says "that Balochistan's accession to Pakistan was, as against the officially projected narrative, not based upon consensus, nor was support for Pakistan overwhelming. What this manipulation indicates is that even before formally becoming a part of Pakistan, Balochistan had fallen a prey to political victimization."[32]: 82 

Initially aspiring for independence,[31] the Khan of Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after period of negotiations with Pakistan.[33] The signing of the Instrument of Accession by Ahmad Yar Khan led his brother, Prince Abdul Karim, to revolt against his brother's decision due to their family rift.[34] in July 1948.[35] Princes Agha Abdul Karim Baloch and Muhammad Rahim refused to lay down arms, leading the Dosht-e Jhalawan in unconventional attacks on the army until 1950.[34] The Prince indulged in Terror activities without any assistance from others.[36] Jinnah and his successors allowed Yar Khan to retain his title until the province's dissolution in 1955.

Insurgencies by Baloch nationalists took place in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63 and 1973–77, with a new ongoing insurgency by autonomy-seeking Baloch groups since 2003.[37][38] While many Baloch support the demand for autonomy, the majority are not interested in seceding from Pakistan.[39]

At a press conference on 8 June 2015 in Quetta, Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti accused India's prime minister Narendra Modi of openly supporting terrorism. Bugti implicated India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of being responsible for recent attacks at military bases in Smangli and Khalid, and for subverting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.[40][41][42]

Gwadar, a region of Balochistan, was a colony of Oman for more than a century, and in the 1960s Pakistan took over the land. Many people in this region are therefore Omani.[43]

Geography

 
Astola Island

Balochistan is situated in the southwest of Pakistan and covers an area of 347,190 square kilometres (134,050 sq mi). It is Pakistan's largest province by area, constituting 44% of Pakistan's total landmass. The province is bordered by Afghanistan to the north and north-west, Iran to the south-west, Punjab and Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the north-east. To the south lies the Arabian Sea. Balochistan is located on the south-eastern part of the Iranian plateau. It borders the geopolitical regions of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Balochistan lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz and provides the shortest route from seaports to Central Asia. Its geographical location has placed the otherwise desolate region in the scope of competing for global interests for all of recorded history.

The capital city Quetta is located in a densely populated portion of the Sulaiman Mountains in the northeast of the province. It is situated in a river valley near the Bolan Pass, which has been used as the route of choice from the coast to Central Asia, entering through Afghanistan's Kandahar region. The British and other historic empires have crossed the region to invade Afghanistan by this route.[44]

Balochistan is rich in exhaustible and renewable resources; it is the second major supplier of natural gas in Pakistan. The province's renewable and human resource potential has not been systematically measured or exploited. Local inhabitants have chosen to live in towns and have relied on sustainable water sources for thousands of years.

Climate

The climate of the upper highlands is characterised by very cold winters and hot summers. In the lower highlands, winters vary from extremely cold in northern districts Ziarat, Quetta, Kalat, Muslim Baagh and Khanozai, where temperatures can drop to −20 °C (−4 °F), to milder conditions closer to the Makran coast. Winters are mild on the plains, with temperatures never falling below freezing point. Summers are hot and dry, especially in the arid zones of Chagai and Kharan districts. The plains are also very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 50 °C (122 °F). The record highest temperature, 53 °C (127 °F), was recorded in Sibi on 26 May 2010,[45] exceeding the previous record, 52 °C (126 °F). Other hot areas include Turbat and Dalbandin. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally, strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitable.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Balochistan, Pakistan; List of districts in Balochistan, Pakistan; and List of cities in Balochistan

In common with the other provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan has a parliamentary form of government. The ceremonial head of the province is the Governor, who is appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the provincial Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, the province's chief executive, is normally the leader of the largest political party or alliance of parties in the provincial assembly.

 
Balochistan Governor House Quetta

The unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 11 are reserved for women and 3 reserved for non-Muslims. The judicial branch of government is carried out by the Balochistan High Court, which is based in Quetta and headed by a Chief Justice.

Besides dominant Pakistan-wide political parties (such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party), Balochistan nationalist parties (such as the National Party and the Balochistan National Party (Mengal)) have been prominent in the province.[37]

Administrative divisions

 
Divisions of Balochistan
 
Note: In this map, Lehri is shown within Sibi District on #27. Sohbatpur and Usta Muhammad is shown within Jafarabad District on #8.Hub is shown within Lasbela District on #17.

For administrative purposes, the province is divided into seven divisions: Kalat, Makran, Nasirabad, Quetta, Sibi, Zhob and Rakhshan. This divisional level was abolished in 2000, but restored after the 2008 election. Each division is under an appointed commissioner. The seven divisions are further subdivided into 36 districts:[46][47]

As of June 2021, there are eight divisions. The eighth division, Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division.[48]

Sr. No. District Headquarters Area

(km2)[49]

Population

(2023)[49]

Density

(people/km2)[49]

Division
1 Awaran Awaran 29,510 178,958 6.1 Kalat
2 Barkhan Barkhan 3,514 210,249 59.8 Loralai
3 Chagai Dalbandin 44,748 269,192 6.0 Rakhshan
4 Chaman Chaman 1,341 466,218 347.7 Quetta
5 Dera Bugti Dera Bugti 10,160 355,274 35.0 Sibi
6 Duki Duki 4,233 205,044 48.4 Loralai
7 Gwadar Gwadar 12,637 305,160 24.2 Makran
8 Harnai Harnai 2,492 127,571 51.2 Sibi
9 Hub Hub N/A N/A N/A Kalat
10 Jafarabad Dera Allahyar 1,643 594,558 361.1 Nasirabad
11 Jhal Magsi Gandava 3,615 203,368 56.2 Nasirabad
12 Kachhi Dhadar 5,682 442,674 77.9 Nasirabad
13 Kalat Kalat 7,654 271,560 35.5 Kalat
14 Kech Turbat 22,539 1,060,931 47.0 Makran
15 Kharan Kharan 14,958 260,352 17.4 Rakhshan
16 Khuzdar Khuzdar 35,380 997,214 28.2 Kalat
17 Kohlu Kohlu 7,610 260,220 34.2 Sibi
18 Lasbela Uthal 15,153 680,977 44.9 Kalat
19 Loralai Loralai 3,785 272,432 72.0 Loralai
20 Mastung Mastung 3,308 313,271 94.7 Kalat
21 Musakhel Musa Khel Bazar 5,728 182,275 31.8 Loralai
22 Nasirabad Dera Murad Jamali 3,387 563,315 166.1 Nasirabad
23 Nushki Nushki 5,797 207,834 35.9 Rakhshan
24 Panjgur Panjgur 16,891 509,781 30.2 Makran
25 Pishin Pishin 6,218 835,482 134.6 Quetta
26 Quetta Quetta 3,447 2,595,492 754.3 Quetta
27 Qila Abdullah Jungle Pir Alizai 3,553 361,971 102.3 Quetta
28 Qilla Saifullah Qilla Saifullah 6,831 380,200 55.7 Zhob
29 Sherani Sherani 4,310 191,687 44.5 Zhob
30 Sibi Sibi 7,121 224,148 31.5 Sibi
31 Sohbatpur Sohbatpur 802 240,106 299.6 Nasirabad
32 Surab Surab 762 279,038 366.5 Kalat
33 Washuk Washuk 33,093 302,623 9.1 Rakhshan
34 Zhob Zhob 15,987 355,692 22.2 Zhob
35 Ziarat Ziarat 3,301 189,535 57.4 Kalat
36 Usta Muhammad Usta Muhammad N/A N/A N/A Nasirabad

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Population Urban
1901 810,746[50]: 5  N/A
1911 834,703[50]: 5  N/A
1921 799,625[50]: 5  N/A
1931 868,617[50]: 5  N/A
1941 857,835[50]: 5  13.30%[50]: 2 
1951 1,167,167 12.38%
1961 1,353,484 16.87%
1972 2,428,678 16.45%
1981 4,332,376 15.62%
1998 6,565,885 23.89%
2017 12,344,408 27.55%
2023 14,894,402 30.96%

Balochistan's population density is low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. In March 2012, preliminary census figures showed that the population of Balochistan, not including the districts of Khuzdar, Kech and Panjgur, had reached 13,162,222, an increase of 139.3% from 5,501,164 in 1998. The population constituted 6.85% of Pakistan's total population. This was the largest increase in population in any province of Pakistan during that time period, almost thrice the national increase of 46.9%.[51][52][53] Official estimates of Balochistan's population grew from approximately 7.45 million in 2003 to 7.8 million in 2005.[54] The 2023 Census enumerated a population of 14,894,402.

Languages and ethnicities

Languages of Balochistan (2023)[55]

  Balochi (39.91%)
  Pashto (34.03%)
  Brahui (17.22%)
  Sindhi (3.81%)
  Saraiki (2.19%)
  Punjabi (0.59%)
  Urdu (0.53%)
  Others (1.5%)

According to the preliminary results of the 2023 census, the languages with the most native speakers in the province are Balochi, spoken by 39.91% of the population (an increase of 4% compared to the 2017 census), and Pashto whose share is at 34.34%.[56]

The Pashtuns mainly inhabit the north of Balochistan and form the majority in Quetta. Baloch on the other hand are found throughout Balochistan, but most highly concentrated in the west and south of the province.

Brahui is spoken by 17.22% mainly in the central part of Balochistan. Other languages include Sindhi (3.81%), Saraiki (2.19%), Punjabi (0.59%), Urdu (0.53%) and others at (1.5%).[56]

Balochi forms the majority in 21 districts and Pashto forms majority in 9 districts of Balochistan.[57] Brahui has majority in 4 districts. In the Lasbela, Hub districts and in Kachhi plain region a large minority of the population speaks Lasi and Siraiki,[58] which are dialects of Sindhi.[59]

According to the Ethnologue, households speaking Balochi, whose primary dialect is Makrani constitutes 13%, Rukhshani 10%, Sulemani 7%, and Khetrani 3% of the population. Other languages spoken are Lasi, Urdu, Punjabi, Hazargi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dehvari, Dari, Tajik, Hindko, Uzbek, and Hindki.[60]

The 2005 census concerning Afghans in Pakistan showed that a total of 769,268[61] Afghan refugees were temporarily staying in Balochistan. However, there are probably fewer Afghans living in Balochistan today as many refugees repatriated in 2013. As of 2015, there are only 327,778 registered Afghan refugees according to the UNHCR.[62]

Language in Balochistan Province (1911–2023)
Mother Tongue 1911[63]: 32  1921[64]: 31  1931[65]: 85  2017[66] 2023[67]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Balochi 233,240 27.94% 225,368 28.18% 267,074 30.75% 4,377,825 35.49% 5,811,185 39.91%
Pashto 227,553 27.26% 201,873 25.25% 207,181 23.85% 4,359,533 35.34% 4,955,245 34.03%
Brahui 145,299 17.41% 139,727 17.47% 127,479 14.68% 2,112,295 17.12% 2,507,157 17.22%
Sindhi 121,849 14.6% 111,412 13.93% 153,032 17.62% 562,309 4.56% 555,198 3.81%
Punjabi/Saraiki/Hindko[b] 75,641 9.06% 80,706 10.09% 69,869 8.04% 500,164[c] 4.05% 429,715[d] 2.95%
Urdu[e] 10,983 1.32% 16,267 2.03% 17,131 1.97% 100,528 0.81% 77,249 0.53%
Dehwari 7,579 0.91% 6,268 0.78% 5,233 0.6% — — — —
English 4,349 0.52% 5,053 0.63% 5,369 0.62% — — — —
Persian 3,833 0.46% 3,591 0.45% 5,020 0.58% — — — —
Pahari 2,258 0.27% 5,401 0.68% 7,901 0.91% — — — —
Marathi 846 0.1% 1,124 0.14% 789 0.09% — — — —
Gujarati 580 0.07% 494 0.06% 618 0.07% — — — —
Rajasthani (Mewati) 324 0.04% 962 0.12% 530 0.06% — — 285 0%
Bihari 144 0.02% 490 0.06% — — — — — —
Arabic 78 0.01% 6 0% 9 0% — — — —
Tamil 55 0.01% 349 0.04% 150 0.02% — — — —
Telugu 20 0% 64 0.01% 42 0% — — — —
Kashmiri 16 0% 165 0.02% 201 0.02% 17,803 0.14% 7,352 0.05%
Bengali 13 0% 70 0.01% 93 0.01% — — — —
Shina — — — — — — — — 1,278 0.01%
Kohistani — — — — — — — — 1,014 0.01%
Balti — — — — — — — — 846 0.01%
Kalasha — — — — — — — — 82 0%
Others 43 0.01% 235 0.03% 896 0.1% 304,672 2.47% 215,405 1.48%
Total responses 834,703 100% 799,625 100% 868,617 100% 12,335,129 100% 14,562,011 97.77%
Total population 834,703 100% 799,625 100% 868,617 100% 12,335,129 100% 14,894,402 100%

Religion

See also: Hinduism in Balochistan and Baluchistan Agency § Religion

According to the 2017 Census, nearly all of the population of Balochistan were Muslims. There were also Hindu and Christian minorities in the province. The Hindu population in the province was approximately 49,133 (including the Scheduled Castes).[68][69][70] The Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir which is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan is situated in Balochistan.[71] There was also a Christian minority of 26,462 individuals in the province.[69]

Religion in Balochistan (1901–2023)
Religious
group 		1901[72]: 5  1911[63]: 9–13  1921[64]: 47–52  1931[65]: 149  1941[50]: 13–18  1951[73][74] 1998[75] 2017[76] 2023[77]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
Islam   765,368 94.4% 782,648 93.76% 733,477 91.73% 798,093 91.88% 785,181 91.53% 1,137,063 98.52% 6,484,006 98.75% 12,255,528 99.28% 14,429,568 99.09%
Hinduism   38,158 4.71% 38,326 4.59% 51,348 6.42% 53,681 6.18% 54,394 6.34% 13,087 1.13% 39,146 0.6% 49,378 0.4% 59,107 0.41%
Sikhism   2,972 0.37% 8,390 1.01% 7,741 0.97% 8,425 0.97% 12,044 1.4% — — — — — — 1,057 0.007%
Christianity   4,026 0.5% 5,085 0.61% 6,693 0.84% 8,059 0.93% 6,056 0.71% 3,937 0.34% 26,462 0.4% 33,330 0.27% 62,731 0.43%
Zoroastrianism   166 0.02% 170 0.02% 165 0.02% 167 0.02% 76 0.01% 79 0.01% — — — — 181 0%
Judaism   48 0.01% 57 0.01% 19 0.002% 17 0.002% 20 0.002% — — — — — — — —
Jainism   8 0.001% 10 0.001% 17 0.002% 17 0.002% 7 0.001% — — — — — — — —
Buddhism   0 0% 16 0.002% 160 0.02% 68 0.01% 43 0.01% 1 0% — — — — — —
Ahmadiyya   — — — — — — — — — — — — 9,800 0.15% 2,469 0.02% 557 0.004%
Others 0 0% 1 0% 5 0.001% 75 0.009% 14 0.002% 0 0% 6,471 0.1% 3,703 0.03% 8,810 0.06%
Total responses 810,746 100% 834,703 100% 799,625 100% 868,617 100% 857,835 100% 1,154,167 98.31% 6,565,885 100% 12,344,408 100% 14,562,011 97.77%
Total population 810,746 100% 834,703 100% 799,625 100% 868,617 100% 857,835 100% 1,174,036 100% 6,565,885 100% 12,344,408 100% 14,894,402 100%

Education

The literacy rate of the province in 2017 was 43.6%, an increase from 24.8% in 1998.[78]

Medical colleges

Engineering universities

General universities

Economy

Main article: Economy of Balochistan, Pakistan

The economy of Balochistan is largely based upon agriculture, livestock, fisheries, production of natural gas, coal and other minerals.[79]

Though agriculture and livestock play a dominant role in the provincial economy by contributing 47% of its GDP, it faced intense damages due to the 2022 Pakistan floods. The floods killed around 500,000 of Balochistan's livestock and damaged cultivation and agricultural output in 32 out of 35 districts of the province. The Lasbela district was the worst hit as the floods washed away fourt-fifth's of the homes, crops and livestock.[80] Due to the floods and severe drought conditions, the province faces food insecurity and is 85% dependent on the Sindh and Punjab provinces for the supply of wheat.[81][82]

Furthermore, with the exception of Quetta, Balochistan has been called a "neglected province where a majority of population lacks amenities".[83][84] Although the province is rich in natural resources capable of uplifting its economy, most of them have not been fully utilised for the welfare of the population and are yet to be explored or developed.[85]

Since the mid-1970s the province's contribution to Pakistan's GDP has dropped from 4.9 to 3.7%,[86] and as of 2007 it had the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate, and the lowest literacy rate in comparison to other provinces,[87] factors some allege have contributed to the insurgency.[84] However, in seventh NFC awards, Punjab province and Federal contributed to increase Baluchistan share more than its entitled population based share.[88] In Balochistan poverty is increasing. In 2001–2002 poverty incidences were at 48% and by 2005–2006 these were at 50.9%.[89] According to a report on Dawn, the rate of multidimensional poverty in Balochistan had risen to 71% by 2016.[90]

Several major development projects, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar,[91] are in progress in Balochistan. The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China, Middle East and the Central Asian republics. The Mirani Dam on the Dasht River, 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Turbat in the Makran Division, is being built to provide water to expand agricultural land use by 35,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi) where it would otherwise be unsustainable.[92] In the district Lasbela, there is an oil refinery owned by Byco International Incorporated (BII), which is capable of processing 120,000 barrels of oil per day. A power station is located adjacent to the refinery.[93] Several cement plants and a marble factory are also located there.[94][95][96] One of the world's largest ship breaking yards is located on the coast.[97]

Natural resource extraction

Balochistan's share of Pakistan's national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.[98] Since 1972, Balochistan's gross income has grown in size by 2.7 times.[99] Outside Quetta, the resource extraction infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan.

The agreements for royalty rights and ownership of mineral rights were reached during a period of unprecedented natural disasters, economic, social, political, and cultural unrest in Pakistan. The negotiations were widely considered to be insufficiently transparent.[100]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Balochistan

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Balochistan, Pakistan

Places of interest

Following is a list of a few tourist attractions and places of interest in Balochistan:

CNIC Codes

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Balochistan's contribution to national economy was 5.33%, or $80 billion (PPP) and $20 billion (nominal) in 2022.[2][3]
  2. ^ Standard Punjabi, Saraiki, and Hindko included together for comparative purposes, as they were previously enumerated jointly as Punjabi languages and dialects.
  3. ^ Saraiki: 326,656 persons
    Standard Punjabi: 139,207 persons
    Hindko: 34,301 persons
  4. ^ Saraiki: 319,054 persons
    Standard Punjabi: 86,457 persons
    Hindko: 24,204 persons
  5. ^ Previously also enumerated as Hindi or Hindustani.
  1. ^ "The Population of Pakistan reaches 241.49 million as the Digital Census concludes" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
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  6. ^ "Delimitation of union councils, wards in Balochistan completed". 11 February 2022.
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  11. ^ Fowle, T. C.; Rai, Diwan Jamiat (1923). Baluchistan. Directorate of Archives, Government of Balochistan. p. 100. The Hindus of Kalat town may indeed be far more indigenous, since they claim descent from the ancient Sewa dynasty that ruled Kalat long before the Brahuis came to Baluchistan.
  12. ^ Balochistan Through the Ages: Geography and history. Nisa Traders. 1979. p. 316. The country up to and including Multan was conquered by the Arabs and the Hindu dynasty of Sind and probably also the Sewa dynasty of Kalat came to an end.
  13. ^ Quddus, Syed Abdul (1990). The Tribal Baluchistan. Ferozsons. p. 49. ISBN 978-969-0-10047-4. The Sibi division was carved out of the Quetta and Kalat Divisions in April, 1974, and comprises districts of Sibi, Kachhi, Nasirabad, Kohlu and Dera Bugti. The Division derives its name from the town of Sibi or Sewi. The local tradition attributes the origin of this name to Rani Sewi of the Sewa dynasty which ruled this part of the country in ancient times.
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Further reading

  • Johnson, E.A. (1999). Lithofacies, depositional environments, and regional stratigraphy of the lower Eocene Ghazij Formation, Balochistan, Pakistan. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1599. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey.
  • Philippe Fabry, Balouchistan, le désert insoumis, Paris, Nathan Image, 1991, 136 p., ISBN 2-09-240036-3
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