Balochistan has been underdeveloped and deprived. The reason behind these deprivations was multifaceted and multidimensional. Due to bad governance, the living standard of people of Balochistan was quite low. Even the HDI index was below the average line. With an estimated Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.391, the level of human development in Balochistan is below the threshold. There has been a mere increase of 0.064 points to the HDI from 0.327 in 2004 to 0.391 in 2010. Among the three components of HDI including education, health and income, the income index for Balochistan had declined from 0.409 in 2010 as compared to 0.487 in 2004.
In the contemporary era, the tables have been turned for Balochistan. HDI index has increased with double speed as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) started and gauged Balochistan. Living standards of people of Balochistan are increasing day by day as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is also coming under the umbrella of CPEC.
The provisional government is putting efforts to sustain the HDI. All districts of Balochistan, including Quetta, are increasing in human development. Quetta scores the highest (0.5) compared to the lowest scoring Dera Bugti (0.32). Gwadar, it may be noted, is a close second to Quetta. The effect of the development will reach to the layman. Basic facilities will be provided by more efficiency to the people of Balochistan. The security situation is also getting stable in the province with the passage of time. This improvement in security situation portrays a positive image of Pakistan in the international arena and welcome the business from all over the world.
Even Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said last week, ‘a trade-friendly environment and secure environment will be provided to the foreign companies investing in Gwadar to attract maximum investment in Balochistan’. Overall, he explained the efforts of the provisional government and the federal government. He said, ‘the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has given Rs.2 billion in Gwadar Development Package. After the completion of paperwork for PC1 schemes, the proposals have been sent for the final approval’.
So categorically the provincial government of Balochistan and federal government are putting their dire efforts to bring Balochistan at that level on which other provinces are. The people of Balochistan should have a sense of ownership in Pakistan. Human development is a composite measure of access to knowledge, long and healthy life, and a decent living standard. Education and health are subjects fully devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment.
