Daily Times

Different political parties and journalists are talking about the need for new provinces in Punjab and Sindh, without knowing the needs of the people.

The problems of Punjab and Sindh will not end by the formation of new provinces. If the government and parliament form a new province, “Janobi Punjab”, without knowing what the people want, the provinces won’t have long-term stability.

Parties that belong to Balochistan have raised their voices in the media, parliament and at public forums that the population of Dera Ghazi Khan, a city in Punjab, is 80 percent Baloch and that the city should be added to Balochistan.

DG Khan dates back to 1476, when Baloch chieftain, Nawab Ghazi Khan Mirani, gave the land to his two sons, Ghazi Khan Mirani and Ismail Khan Mirani. The land eventually came under the governance of the British rule after the Sikh War of 1849. It was then divided into two districts, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan. The tribal leaders were presented the option of going with Balochistan or Punjab. The Baloch leaders of DG Khan chose to side with Punjab, given that they would be allowed to continue to uphold their jirga traditions and maintain autonomy.

Dera Ghazi Khan is nestled right at the tail of Suleiman Range that opens in Punjab. There are two languages Seraiki and Balochi. Balochi is the spoken language of the Suleiman Range and in city plus surrounding areas both languages are spoken by peoples. Another reason for the large number of the Baloch in the city is the presence of the Baloch tribal families and their landholdings surrounding the region.

Dera Ghazi Khan is the most deprived city of Punjab, but in development it is better than the cities of Balochistan. That is why many people of Dera Bugti, Barkhan and other adjoining areas are situated at DG Khan for jobs, businesses or for sale and purchase of things. When DG Khan will be added to Balochistan, it would benefit both Dera Ghazi Khan and Balochistan.

Ethnically people of Dera Ghazi Khan and of Balochistan are same. DG Khan is a stable city, and its stability and safety creates a good market, making good income. Tribal and semi-tribal environment of the city attracts people of Balochistan.

Literacy rate of Dera Ghazi Khan is 60 percent, and there are at least 15 different institutes in the city. There is a medical college, university, a college of agriculture, several law institutes and colleges of commerce. Furthermore, there are a number of public and private sector primary education institutes functioning in the area. When DG Khan joins Balochistan, it will improve education in Balochistan.

Balochistan is weak in cultivation of agriculture. If this district joins Balochistan, agriculture of Dera Ghazi Khan would be able to fulfill the need of the Baloch, because Dera Ghazi Khan is agricultural land, with cotton, wheat, sugarcane, dates, rice being the major crops grown. Farmers of DG Khan have complained about the lack of crop market. Balochistan will provide market to farmers.

DG Khan has many minerals, companies and factories, including DG Khan Cement Company Limited, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, the Al-Ghazi Tractors and Rahim Bux Textile Mills, which along with other flour, cotton, chemical and rice mills in the area form the backbone of Punjab.

The Baloch want their own national representation in country, and the government should listen to them.