The arid land of Balochistan is in a desperate need of policies based on research.
Does the government system consider research a “rudimentary” tool during policy-making or is it the light at the end of the tunnel, which shapes an effective policy to deal with a difficult situation?
The answer is more or less satisfactory. Research is not only an addition to the already existing knowledge but also serves as a knuckle that interlinks the world with reality.
Indeed!
The current broad and intricate economic situation of the country begs a look based on research. After assessment of the current budget, all parameters lead us to assume that suggestions from eminent economists and academics have all gone astray.
Similarly, top-notch academics are hired to assist governments for different policy reform initiatives. For instance, Sindh government’s initiative of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was firstly headed by prominent academic and economist, Kaisar Bengali. Nonetheless, the policies (whether based on research) at the top encounter a complex set of issues while legislative deadlock lies at the core. Take the case of the recent finance bill passed in a one-man (party) show attempt despite continuous uproar by opposition. Respectively, revenue-distributing “debut” through National Finance Commission Award (NFC) has been a contentious business ever since the first award was passed in 1951.
Likewise, following the failure of developing a formula, which should satisfy all federating units, the 9th NFC Award could not be passed amid objections raised by the provinces to the intergovernmental fiscal transferring formula. Adding to the issues are the demands made by the provinces. Sindh craves for a “pie” larger than the allocated revenue share in the 7th NFC Award, which was passed in 2010.
Balochistan presses for adding geography into the fiscal sharing formula. Also, KPK eyes for an increase in its share because the security conditions have worsened in the province, given the war waged against terrorism. Succinctly enough, will research, in this given situation, lead us to generate a balanced formula for smooth intergovernmental fiscal transfer to sub-governments?
Interestingly, academics Nighat Bilgramy Jaffery and Mahpara Sadaqat attempted to come up with a formula that might ease the woes central to the discord of revenue-sharing between federal and its federating units. The authors in their research, titled, “NFC Awards: Commentary and Agenda,” suggest an addition into NFC Award formula, which is based on population currently. The authors suggest the addition of backwardness and distance factors to modify the formula to a satisfactory approach given the nature of objections raised by federating units.
At a lower level, however, remains the arid land of Balochistan, which is in a desperate need of policies based on research. In Balochistan Budget 2018-19, almost 82 billion rupees were allocated for development in the province. Concerning the development schemes, Citizen’s Budget Book details the allocation of funds for different projects and also provides a ground for a case study to assess whether research had been part and parcel of the decision-making process.
Interestingly, academics Nighat Bilgramy Jaffery and Mahpara Sadaqat attempted to come up with a formula that might ease the woes central to the discord of revenue-sharing between federal and its federating units
Take, for example, the total coast spent on culture, sports and tourism. Almost 3.2 billion was allocated for the said fields. Recently, in one his tweets, the current finance minister of Balochistan, Mir Zahoor Buledi, took credit for allocating 100 million rupees for “preserving” culture. After a meticulous look, Finance Minister seemed more “culturalistic” while missing a delicate issue of the water crisis in the province.
The issue has been inflicting the province for decades.
Truly, culture is a source of pride.
However, “preserving” it might give a sense of putting it into a museum! Interestingly, the entire water management onus, as mentioned in the Citizen’s Budget Book (2018-19) of Balochistan, falls either in foreign or federal funding domain.
Surprisingly, water crisis, when seen through the lens of research, has been the most chronic ailment that has hit the arid land of Balochistan for decades. Conducted in 1974, the Water Reconnaissance Survey by Balochistan University, with the help of Nasir Geotechnics, is a treasure trove for the policymakers to utilise and reduce the chronic issue of the water crisis in Balochistan.
In the survey, the potential of wind, solar and groundwater recharge methods are discussed to enhance energy efficiency and overcome water crisis.
According to survey results, due to erratic rainfall in the province, almost 80 to 90 per cent water evaporates as the land is arid. However, the survey suggests that 75 per cent of water could be saved through water recharges to fill ground aquifers with effective methods.
Likewise, the prominent economist and academic, Kaisar Bengali, who headed the former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik’s Policy Reform Unit, suggests a plethora of reforms including water management methods. Like one of the recommendations put forward in “Ground Water Reconnaissance Survey of Balochistan,” Dr Bengali, in his book, “A Cry for Justice, Empirical Insights from Balochistan,” also suggests the construction of “check dams” as inevitable for the process of preserving water.
Finally, under the command of the incumbent government of Balochistan, an Annual Development Fund has been approved to finance more than 500 projects. Previously, the construction of more than 40 dams was included in development projects. Contradictory to the projects related to the construction of surface dams, such dams were not recommended in either Dr Bengali’s research book or the Reconnaissance Survey. To address the root of the issues, research-based suggestions are the only way for policymakers to deliver.
Research, indeed, is a contribution to the empirical world of knowledge. Yet, if not utilized in the policymaking process, the research-based recommendations remain a “contribution” to the empirical world of knowledge!
The writer is a freelance journalist and researcher. He tweets @ayazkhanzada18