Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, I have nothing but praise for your initiatives, which are based on a commitment to address a myriad of issues pertaining to the social, political and economic conditions of Balochistan. The eleventh general election has been fruitful in terms of electing seasoned politicians into both, the Provincial and National Assemblies, as capable representatives of this great province.
While Pakistan has been given the added prefix of naya, after the elections, it can also be applied to each of the provinces of the country as well. With your selection as Chief Minister of Balochistan, the reigns of the naya Balochistan fall in to your hands. The word naya might be construed as making a fresh start, and this is exactly what the country and the province in particular need, as they are facing issues ranging from corruption to bad governance, extremism to militancy that have been left as gifts by the previous governments.
Acceptably, your vision, disseminated through social media, encompasses a solution to almost a large part of these intricate issues. Apart from speaking on political matters, you have spoken about soft issues such as tourism as well if these issues are not tackled effectively, then they might create hurdles in the way of good governance.
The vision 2025 is people-centric and emphasises utilising the untapped potential of the youth. However Balochistan does not pose a promising future in this regard, with 52 percent of children under the age of five suffering from stunted growth, while another 57 percent children under the age of five, along with 49 percent of childbearing women, are anaemic. On top of the deplorable conditions of the health sector in the province, education has also suffered greatly. This decline can be seen across the board, and even though the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)is being termed as a ‘game changer’, technical and vocational education in the province is almost zero, robbing the people of the region an opportunity to take advantage of this multi-billion dollar project.
‘The Sustainable Development Goal 13’ report emphasizes the impact of climate change on the water-energy-food nexus within Balochistan and claims that the province’s coastal zone will be affected severely by an estimated 2-3 degree increase in temperatures in South Asia
Respectively, the core issue lies in tackling climate problems. As Pakistan is a signatory of the Paris Agreement, accomplishment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13) remains a challenging task. Much of the debate is centred on robbing the province of its deserved share in the resources and revenues of the country. Take, for instance, the most eulogised coastal area of the province which stretches over 750 km. Indeed, this area retains an incredible wealth of marine life, with Gwadar at its heart. But the report titled Sustainable Development Goal 13: a Legislative and Policy Gap Analysis for Balochistan rings an alarm bell. The report emphasizes that the impact of climate change on the water-energy-food nexus has increased, with the province’s coastal zone deeply affected by an estimated 2-3 degree increase in temperatures in South Asia.
Similarly, the rampant depletion of underground water has increased the vulnerabilities of the masses. Due to the altered hydrological cycle, the report says, that the province suffers from erratic and sparse rainfall. This change, in turn, has caused water scarcity in the province. Given this, a dam-building policy is inevitable.
After you chalked out the tourism policy that could potentially have multifaceted benefits for the province, the issue of climate change might need more concentration. Since the 1980s, tourism has been given extra importance by researchers, due to its revenue earning potential, as well as its ability to bring people of different backgrounds together for a better understanding of each culture. Interacting with local masses can lead to the cultural and societal exchange of ideas, broadening our views, and bringing an end to stereotyping and hate amongst communities.
However, the strategy you outlined in your Twitter post, regarding the building of new monuments to promote tourism, might be difficult, considering the financial constraints involved. Instead, you would be better served to divert resources to existing places, like the Astola Island, Sutkagen Dar in Gwadar and Moolachoto’ ok (a picnic resort situated within the limits of Khuzdar) etc.
Finally, an effective tourism policy requires a safe and secure environment. With an effective policy in hand, a pluralistic approach to curb sectarian extremism can be implemented that can finally rid the province of these nefarious forces trying to divide the people within. Once this is achieved, Balochistan can finally be said to be on the path of true change and a new start.
Writer is journalist and freelance contributor. He tweets at @ayazkhanzada18
Published in Daily Times, August 31st 2018.