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Balochistan, Pakistan

Balochistan (/bəˈlɒɪstɑːn, bəˌlɒɪˈstɑːn, -stæn/; Balochi: بلۏچستان; Urdu: بلوچستان) is one of the four provinces 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 shares land borders with the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to the north-east and Sindh to the south-east. It shares International borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north; It is also 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 (Urdu)
بلۏچستان (Balochi)
Location of Balochistan in Pakistan
Coordinates: 27°42′N 65°42′E / 27.7°N 65.7°E / 27.7; 65.7Coordinates: 27°42′N 65°42′E / 27.7°N 65.7°E / 27.7; 65.7
Country Pakistan
Established1 July 1970
Capital
and largest city
Quetta
Government
 • TypeSelf-governing province subject to the federal government
 • BodyGovernment of Balochistan
 • GovernorJan Mohammad Jamali (acting)
 • Chief MinisterAbdul Quddus Bizenjo
 • Chief SecretaryAbdul Aziz Uqaili
 • LegislatureProvincial Assembly
 • High CourtBalochistan High Court
Area
 • Total347,190 km2 (134,050 sq mi)
 • Rank1st
Population
 • Total12,335,129
 • Rank4th
 • Density36/km2 (92/sq mi)
GDP (2021–2022)
 • GDP (nominal)$17 billion
 • Per Capita (nominal)USD$933
Time zoneUTC+05:00 (PKT)
ISO 3166 codePK-BA
Main languages
Notable sports teamsQuetta Gladiators
Quetta Bears
Balochistan cricket team
HDI (2019)0.475 [3]
low
Literacy rate (2020)54.5% [4]
Seats in National Assembly30
Seats in Provincial Assembly65
Divisions8
Districts35
Tehsils134
Union Councils978[5]
Websitewww.balochistan.gov.pk

Balochistan shares borders with Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the northeast, Sindh to the east and southeast, the Arabian Sea to the south, Iran (Sistan and Baluchestan) to the west and Afghanistan (Helmand, Nimruz, Kandahar, Paktika and Zabul Provinces) to the north and northwest.

The name "Balochistan" means "the land of the Baloch". Largely underdeveloped, its provincial economy is 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 Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

Balochistan is noted for its unique culture and extremely dry desert climate.[6]

History

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 BC,[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10]

A theory of the origin of the Baloch people, the largest ethnic group in the region, is that they are of Median descent.[11]

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).[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Pre-modern era

In the 15th century, Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first Sirdar of Afghani, Irani 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.[15][16][17] 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.

British Indian 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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] During the time of the Indian independence movement, "three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan's politics", such as the Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, which favoured a united India and opposed its partition.[22][23]

After independence

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.[24] The province's Shahi Jirga (the grand council of tribal elders[25]) and the non-official members of the Quetta Municipality,[26] according to the Pakistani narrative,[27]: 80 agreed to join Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947;[26] however, the Shahi Jirga was stripped of its members from the Kalat State prior to the vote.[27]: 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."[27]: 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".[27]: 82  This has brought into question whether an actual vote took place in the town hall "and that the announcement in favour of accession was secured through sheer manipulation."[27]: 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."[27]: 82 

Initially aspiring for independence,[26] the Khan of Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after period of negotiations with Pakistan.[28] 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.[29] in July 1948.[30] 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.[29] The Prince indulged in Terror activities without any assistance from others.[31] 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.[32][33] While many Baloch support the demand for autonomy, the majority are not interested in seceding from Pakistan.[34]

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.[35][36][37]

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.[38]

Geography

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.[39]

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 due to pressures from within and without Pakistan. 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,[40] 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

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 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.[32]

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 33 districts:[41][42]

As of June 2021, there are eight divisions. The eighth division, Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division.[43]

Sr. no. District Headquarters Area
(km2)
Population
(2017)[44]
Density
(people/km2)
Division
1 Awaran Awaran 29,510 121,821 4 Kalat
2 Barkhan Barkhan 3,514 171,025 49 Loralai
3 Kachhi (Bolan) Dhadar 4,374 236,473 54 Nasirabad
4 Chagai Chagai 44,748[45] 226,517 5 Rakhshan
5 Dera Bugti Dera Bugti 10,160 313,110 31 Sibi
6 Gwadar Gwadar 12,637 262,253 15 Makran
7 Harnai[46] Harnai 2,492 97,052 39 Sibi
8 Hub Hub N/A N/A N/A Kalat
9 Jafarabad Dera Allahyar 1,643 513,972 313 Nasirabad
10 Jhal Magsi Jhal Magsi 3,615 148,900 41 Nasirabad
11 Kalat Kalat 7,654 211,201 28 Kalat
12 Kech (Turbat) Turbat 22,539 907,182 40 Makran
13 Kharan Kharan 14,958 162,766 11 Rakhshan
14 Kohlu Kohlu 7,610 213,933 28 Sibi
15 Khuzdar Khuzdar 35,380 798,896 23 Kalat
16 Killa Abdullah Killa Abdullah 3,553 323,823 91 Quetta
17 Killa Saifullah Killa Saifullah 6,831 342,932 50 Zhob
18 Lasbela Uthal 15,153 576,271 38 Kalat
19 Loralai Loralai 3,785 244,446 65 Loralai
20 Mastung Mastung 3,308 265,676 80 Kalat
21 Musakhel Musa Khel Bazar 5,728 167,243 29 Loralai
22 Nasirabad Dera Murad Jamali 3,387 487,847 144 Nasirabad
23 Nushki[47] Nushki 5,797 178,947 31 Rakhshan
24 Panjgur Panjgur 16,891 315,353 19 Makran
25 Pishin Pishin 6,218 736,903 119 Quetta
26 Quetta Quetta 3,447 2,269,473 658 Quetta
27 Sherani Sherani 4,310 152,952 35 Zhob
28 Sibi Sibi 8,429 253,210 30 Sibi
29 Washuk Washuk 29,510 176,206 4.0 Rakhshan
30 Zhob Zhob 15,987 310,354 19 Zhob
31 Ziarat Ziarat 3,301 160,095 49 Sibi
32 Sohbatpur Sohbatpur 800 200,426 250 Nasirabad
33 Shaheed Sikandarabad Surab 762 200,857 263 Kalat
34 Duki Duki 4,233 152,977 36 Loralai
35 Chaman Chaman 1,341 434,561 324 Quetta
36 Usta Muhammad Usta Muhammad N/A N/A N/A Nasirabad
37 Karezat Karezat N/A N/A N/A Quetta

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Population Urban

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%

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%.[2][48][49] Official estimates of Balochistan's population grew from approximately 7.45 million in 2003 to 7.8 million in 2005.[50] The 2017 Census enumerated a population of 12,344,408.

Languages and ethnicities

Languages of Balochistan (2017)[51]

  Balochi (35.49%)
  Pashto (35.34%)
  Brahui (17.12%)
  Sindhi (4.56%)
  Saraiki (2.65%)
  Punjabi (1.13%)
  Others (3.71%)

According to the preliminary results of the 2017 census, the languages with the most native speakers in the province are Balochi, spoken by 35.49% of the population, and Pashto, whose share at 35.34% is a marked increase on the 1998 census, when it stood at 29.6%. The Pasthuns 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 17.12% mainly in the central part of Balochistan. Other languages include Sindhi (4.6%), Saraiki (2.7%), Punjabi (1.1%), and Urdu (0.81%).[52][51]

Balochi forms the majority in 21 districts and Pashto forms majority in 9 districts of Balochistan.[53] Brahui has majority in 4 districts. In the Lasbela District, a large minority of the population speaks Lasi,[54] which is a dialect of Sindhi.[55]

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.[52]

The 2005 census concerning Afghans in Pakistan showed that a total of 769,268[56] 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.[57]

Religion

Religion in Balochistan, Pakistan[58]

  Islam (99.28%)
  Hinduism (0.40%)
  Christianity (0.27%)
  Ahmadi (0.02%)
  Others (0.03%)

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).[59][60][61] The Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir which is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan is situated in Balochistan.[62] There was also a Christian minority of 26,462 individuals in the province.[60]

Religion in Balochistan
Religion Population (1941)[63]: 18  Percentage (1941) Population (2017)[58] Percentage (2017)
Islam   785,181 91.53% 12,255,528 99.28%
Hinduism   54,394 6.34% 49,378 0.4%
Sikhism   12,044 1.4% N/A N/A
Christianity   6,056 0.71% 33,330 0.27%
Ahmadi N/A N/A 2,469 0.02%
Others 160 0.02% 3,703 0.03%
Total Population 857,835 100% 12,344,408 100%

Education

The literacy rate of the province in 2017 was 43.6%, an increase from 24.8% in 1998.[64]

Medical colleges

Engineering universities

General universities

Economy

The economy of Balochistan is largely based upon the production of natural gas, coal and other minerals.[65]

Balochistan has been called a "neglected province where a majority of population lacks amenities".[66][67] Since the mid-1970s the province's share of Pakistan's GDP has dropped from 4.9 to 3.7%,[68] and as of 2007 it had the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate, and the lowest literacy rate in the country,[69] factors some allege have contributed to the insurgency.[67] However, in seventh NFC awards, Punjab province and Federal contributed to increase Baluchistan share more than its entitled population based share.[70] In Balochistan poverty is increasing. In 2001–2002 poverty incidences were at 48% and by 2005–2006 these were at 50.9%.[71] According to a report on Dawn, the rate of multidimensional poverty in Balochistan had risen to 71% by 2016.[72]

Though the province remains largely underdeveloped, several major development projects, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar,[73] are in progress in Balochistan. The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China 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.[74] 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.[75] Several cement plants and a marble factory are also located there.[76][77][78] One of the world's largest ship breaking yards is located on the coast.[79]

Natural resource extraction

Balochistan's share of Pakistan's national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.[80] Since 1972, Balochistan's gross income has grown in size by 2.7 times.[81] 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.[82]

Culture

Tourism

Balochistan has many tourist sites, but due to the security concerns caused by threats of terrorism, its tourism potential has been negatively effected. However, recently, tourism is growing in Balochistan and fights against terrorists have proved successful. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also aims to revive the growing tourism industry by improving road networks which would generate jobs and income for locals.

Balochistan Liberation Army, an organization listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the United States, and the United Kingdom,[83][84][85] is active in the region.[86][87]

Places of interest

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

See also

References

  1. ^ (PDF). pbscensus.gov.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Pak population increased by 46.9% between 1998 and 2011". The Times of India. from the original on 29 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  4. ^ "KPK Achieves Highest Literacy Growth Rate Among All Provinces". 9 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Delimitation of union councils, wards in Balochistan completed". 11 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Balochistan | province, Pakistan". Encyclopædia Britannica. from the original on 5 April 2017.
  7. ^ Iain Morley; Colin Renfrew (2010). The Archaeology of Measurement: Comprehending Heaven, Earth and Time in Ancient Societies. Cambridge University Press. p. 107. ISBN 9780521119900.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ M. Longworth Dames, Balochi Folklore, Folklore, Vol. 13, No. 3 (29 September 1902), pp. 252–274
  12. ^ Tabqat ibn Saad, Vol. 8, p. 471
  13. ^ Saxena, Sunil K. (2011). History of Medieval India. Pinnacle Technology.
  14. ^ Tarikh al Khulfa, Vol. 1, pp. 214–215, 229
  15. ^ . 1 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018.
  16. ^ Iranica.com[dead link]
  17. ^ . Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  18. ^ Henige, David P. (1970). Colonial Governors from the Fifteenth Century to the Present: A Comprehensive List. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 89. The British began to assume control over the rough desert region in extreme western India known as Baluchistan in the 1870s.
  19. ^ Dashti, Naseer (2012). The Baloch and Balochistan: A Historical Account from the Beginning to the Fall of the Baloch State. Trafford Publishing. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-4669-5896-8.
  20. ^ Peter R. Blood (1996). Pakistan: A Country Study. DIANE Publishing. p. 20.
  21. ^ Foreign Affairs Pakistan, Volume 32, Issues 11–12. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2005. p. 257.
  22. ^ Afzal, M. Rafique (2001). Pakistan: History and Politics 1947-1971. Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-19-579634-6. Besides the Balochistan Muslim League, three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan's politics: the Anjuman-i Watan, the Jamiatul Ulama u Hind, and the Qalat State National Party.
  23. ^ Ranjan, Amit (2018). Partition of India: Postcolonial Legacies. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780429750526. Furthermore, Congress leadership of Balochistan was united and there was no disagreement over its president, Samad Khan Achakzai. On the other hand, Qazi Isa was the president of the League in Balochistan. Surprisingly, he was neither a Balochi nor a Sardar. Consequently, all Sardars except Jaffar Khan Jamali, were against Qazi Isa for contesting this seat.
  24. ^ Hasnat, Syed Farooq (2011). Global Security Watch–Pakistan. Praeger. pp. 94, 113. ISBN 978-0-313-34697-2.
  25. ^ "Shahi Jirga Records". Balochistan Archives. Government of Balochistan Directorate of Archives. from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  26. ^ a b c Pervaiz I Cheema; Manuel Riemer (22 August 1990). Pakistan's Defence Policy 1947-58. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 60–. ISBN 978-1-349-20942-2.
  27. ^ a b c d e f Sheikh, Salman Rafi (2018). The Genesis of Baloch Nationalism: Politics and Ethnicity in Pakistan, 1947–1977. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-351-02068-8.
  28. ^ Yaqoob Khan Bangash (10 May 2015). . The News on Sunday. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015.
  29. ^ a b Qaiser Butt (22 April 2013). "Princely Liaisons: The Khan family controls politics in Kalat". The Express Tribune. from the original on 22 December 2015.
  30. ^ D. Long, Roger; Singh, Gurharpal; Samad, Yunas; Talbot, Ian (2015). State and Nation-Building in Pakistan: Beyond Islam and Security. Routledge. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-317-44820-4.
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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

External links

balochistan, pakistan, this, article, about, province, pakistan, geographic, region, balochistan, other, uses, balochistan, disambiguation, balochistan, ɑː, ɑː, balochi, بلۏچستان, urdu, بلوچستان, four, provinces, pakistan, located, southwestern, region, countr. This article is about the province of Pakistan For the geographic region see Balochistan For other uses see Balochistan disambiguation Balochistan b e ˈ l ɒ tʃ ɪ s t ɑː n b e ˌ l ɒ tʃ ɪ ˈ s t ɑː n s t ae n Balochi بلۏچستان Urdu بلوچستان is one of the four provinces 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 shares land borders with the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to the north east and Sindh to the south east It shares International borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north It is also 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 Urdu بلۏچستان Balochi ProvinceTop left to right anti clockwise Quaid e Azam Residency Princess of Hope Koh i Chiltan Canyons of Balochistan Kund Malir Hanna LakeFlagSealLocation of Balochistan in PakistanCoordinates 27 42 N 65 42 E 27 7 N 65 7 E 27 7 65 7 Coordinates 27 42 N 65 42 E 27 7 N 65 7 E 27 7 65 7Country PakistanEstablished1 July 1970Capitaland largest cityQuettaGovernment TypeSelf governing province subject to the federal government BodyGovernment of Balochistan GovernorJan Mohammad Jamali acting Chief MinisterAbdul Quddus Bizenjo Chief SecretaryAbdul Aziz Uqaili LegislatureProvincial Assembly High CourtBalochistan High CourtArea Total347 190 km2 134 050 sq mi Rank1stPopulation 2017 1 2 Total12 335 129 Rank4th Density36 km2 92 sq mi GDP 2021 2022 GDP nominal 17 billion Per Capita nominal USD 933Time zoneUTC 05 00 PKT ISO 3166 codePK BAMain languagesUrdu official Balochi Pashto BrahuiNotable sports teamsQuetta GladiatorsQuetta BearsBalochistan cricket teamHDI 2019 0 475 3 lowLiteracy rate 2020 54 5 4 Seats in National Assembly30Seats in Provincial Assembly65Divisions8Districts35Tehsils134Union Councils978 5 Websitewww wbr balochistan wbr gov wbr pkBalochistan shares borders with Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the northeast Sindh to the east and southeast the Arabian Sea to the south Iran Sistan and Baluchestan to the west and Afghanistan Helmand Nimruz Kandahar Paktika and Zabul Provinces to the north and northwest The name Balochistan means the land of the Baloch Largely underdeveloped its provincial economy is 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 Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea Balochistan is noted for its unique culture and extremely dry desert climate 6 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 Arrival of Islam 1 3 Pre modern era 1 4 British Indian era 1 5 After independence 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Government and politics 3 1 Administrative divisions 4 Demographics 4 1 Languages and ethnicities 4 2 Religion 5 Education 5 1 Medical colleges 5 2 Engineering universities 5 3 General universities 6 Economy 6 1 Natural resource extraction 7 Culture 8 Tourism 8 1 Places of interest 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External linksHistory EditMain article History of Balochistan Early history Edit This section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 BC 7 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 8 9 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 10 A theory of the origin of the Baloch people the largest ethnic group in the region is that they are of Median descent 11 Arrival of Islam Edit 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 12 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 13 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 14 Pre modern era Edit In the 15th century Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first Sirdar of Afghani Irani 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 15 16 17 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 British Indian era Edit 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 18 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 19 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 20 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 21 During the time of the Indian independence movement three pro Congress parties were still active in Balochistan s politics such as the Anjuman i Watan Baluchistan which favoured a united India and opposed its partition 22 23 After independence Edit 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 24 The province s Shahi Jirga the grand council of tribal elders 25 and the non official members of the Quetta Municipality 26 according to the Pakistani narrative 27 80 agreed to join Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947 26 however the Shahi Jirga was stripped of its members from the Kalat State prior to the vote 27 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 27 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 27 82 This has brought into question whether an actual vote took place in the town hall and that the announcement in favour of accession was secured through sheer manipulation 27 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 27 82 Initially aspiring for independence 26 the Khan of Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after period of negotiations with Pakistan 28 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 29 in July 1948 30 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 29 The Prince indulged in Terror activities without any assistance from others 31 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 32 33 While many Baloch support the demand for autonomy the majority are not interested in seceding from Pakistan 34 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 35 36 37 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 38 Geography Edit 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 39 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 due to pressures from within and without Pakistan Local inhabitants have chosen to live in towns and have relied on sustainable water sources for thousands of years Climate Edit 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 40 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 EditMain 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 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 32 Administrative divisions Edit 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 33 districts 41 42 As of June 2021 there are eight divisions The eighth division Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division 43 Sr no District Headquarters Area km2 Population 2017 44 Density people km2 Division1 Awaran Awaran 29 510 121 821 4 Kalat2 Barkhan Barkhan 3 514 171 025 49 Loralai3 Kachhi Bolan Dhadar 4 374 236 473 54 Nasirabad4 Chagai Chagai 44 748 45 226 517 5 Rakhshan5 Dera Bugti Dera Bugti 10 160 313 110 31 Sibi6 Gwadar Gwadar 12 637 262 253 15 Makran7 Harnai 46 Harnai 2 492 97 052 39 Sibi8 Hub Hub N A N A N A Kalat9 Jafarabad Dera Allahyar 1 643 513 972 313 Nasirabad10 Jhal Magsi Jhal Magsi 3 615 148 900 41 Nasirabad11 Kalat Kalat 7 654 211 201 28 Kalat12 Kech Turbat Turbat 22 539 907 182 40 Makran13 Kharan Kharan 14 958 162 766 11 Rakhshan14 Kohlu Kohlu 7 610 213 933 28 Sibi15 Khuzdar Khuzdar 35 380 798 896 23 Kalat16 Killa Abdullah Killa Abdullah 3 553 323 823 91 Quetta17 Killa Saifullah Killa Saifullah 6 831 342 932 50 Zhob18 Lasbela Uthal 15 153 576 271 38 Kalat19 Loralai Loralai 3 785 244 446 65 Loralai20 Mastung Mastung 3 308 265 676 80 Kalat21 Musakhel Musa Khel Bazar 5 728 167 243 29 Loralai22 Nasirabad Dera Murad Jamali 3 387 487 847 144 Nasirabad23 Nushki 47 Nushki 5 797 178 947 31 Rakhshan24 Panjgur Panjgur 16 891 315 353 19 Makran25 Pishin Pishin 6 218 736 903 119 Quetta26 Quetta Quetta 3 447 2 269 473 658 Quetta27 Sherani Sherani 4 310 152 952 35 Zhob28 Sibi Sibi 8 429 253 210 30 Sibi29 Washuk Washuk 29 510 176 206 4 0 Rakhshan30 Zhob Zhob 15 987 310 354 19 Zhob31 Ziarat Ziarat 3 301 160 095 49 Sibi32 Sohbatpur Sohbatpur 800 200 426 250 Nasirabad33 Shaheed Sikandarabad Surab 762 200 857 263 Kalat34 Duki Duki 4 233 152 977 36 Loralai35 Chaman Chaman 1 341 434 561 324 Quetta36 Usta Muhammad Usta Muhammad N A N A N A Nasirabad37 Karezat Karezat N A N A N A QuettaDemographics EditHistorical populationsCensus Population Urban1951 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 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 2 48 49 Official estimates of Balochistan s population grew from approximately 7 45 million in 2003 to 7 8 million in 2005 50 The 2017 Census enumerated a population of 12 344 408 Languages and ethnicities Edit Languages of Balochistan 2017 51 Balochi 35 49 Pashto 35 34 Brahui 17 12 Sindhi 4 56 Saraiki 2 65 Punjabi 1 13 Others 3 71 According to the preliminary results of the 2017 census the languages with the most native speakers in the province are Balochi spoken by 35 49 of the population and Pashto whose share at 35 34 is a marked increase on the 1998 census when it stood at 29 6 The Pasthuns 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 12 mainly in the central part of Balochistan Other languages include Sindhi 4 6 Saraiki 2 7 Punjabi 1 1 and Urdu 0 81 52 51 Balochi forms the majority in 21 districts and Pashto forms majority in 9 districts of Balochistan 53 Brahui has majority in 4 districts In the Lasbela District a large minority of the population speaks Lasi 54 which is a dialect of Sindhi 55 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 52 The 2005 census concerning Afghans in Pakistan showed that a total of 769 268 56 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 57 Religion Edit See also Hinduism in Balochistan Religion in Balochistan Pakistan 58 Islam 99 28 Hinduism 0 40 Christianity 0 27 Ahmadi 0 02 Others 0 03 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 59 60 61 The Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir which is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan is situated in Balochistan 62 There was also a Christian minority of 26 462 individuals in the province 60 Religion in Balochistan Religion Population 1941 63 18 Percentage 1941 Population 2017 58 Percentage 2017 Islam 785 181 91 53 12 255 528 99 28 Hinduism 54 394 6 34 49 378 0 4 Sikhism 12 044 1 4 N A N AChristianity 6 056 0 71 33 330 0 27 Ahmadi N A N A 2 469 0 02 Others 160 0 02 3 703 0 03 Total Population 857 835 100 12 344 408 100 Education EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The literacy rate of the province in 2017 was 43 6 an increase from 24 8 in 1998 64 Medical colleges Edit Bolan University of Medical amp Health Sciences Makran Medical CollegeEngineering universities Edit Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology Khuzdar Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences QuettaGeneral universities Edit University of Balochistan Quetta Al Hamd Islamic University Quetta Sardar Bahadur Khan Women s University Quetta Lasbela University of Agriculture Water and Marine Sciences Lasbela University of Turbat Turbat University of Loralai LoralaiEconomy EditMain article Economy of Balochistan Pakistan The economy of Balochistan is largely based upon the production of natural gas coal and other minerals 65 Balochistan has been called a neglected province where a majority of population lacks amenities 66 67 Since the mid 1970s the province s share of Pakistan s GDP has dropped from 4 9 to 3 7 68 and as of 2007 it had the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate and the lowest literacy rate in the country 69 factors some allege have contributed to the insurgency 67 However in seventh NFC awards Punjab province and Federal contributed to increase Baluchistan share more than its entitled population based share 70 In Balochistan poverty is increasing In 2001 2002 poverty incidences were at 48 and by 2005 2006 these were at 50 9 71 According to a report on Dawn the rate of multidimensional poverty in Balochistan had risen to 71 by 2016 72 Though the province remains largely underdeveloped several major development projects including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar 73 are in progress in Balochistan The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China 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 74 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 75 Several cement plants and a marble factory are also located there 76 77 78 One of the world s largest ship breaking yards is located on the coast 79 Natural resource extraction Edit Balochistan s share of Pakistan s national income has historically ranged between 3 7 to 4 9 80 Since 1972 Balochistan s gross income has grown in size by 2 7 times 81 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 82 Culture EditMain article Culture of BalochistanTourism EditThis section has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it June 2020 This section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Main article Tourism in Balochistan Pakistan Balochistan has many tourist sites but due to the security concerns caused by threats of terrorism its tourism potential has been negatively effected However recently tourism is growing in Balochistan and fights against terrorists have proved successful The China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC also aims to revive the growing tourism industry by improving road networks which would generate jobs and income for locals Balochistan Liberation Army an organization listed as a terrorist organization by Pakistan the United States and the United Kingdom 83 84 85 is active in the region 86 87 Places of interest Edit Following is a list of a few tourist attractions and places of interest in Balochistan Astola Island Bolan Pass Dureji Gadani Beach Gadani Ship Breaking Yard Gwadar Hanna Lake Hazarganji Chiltan National Park near Quetta Balochistan Hinglaj Mata Temples Hingol National Park Hub Dam Jiwani Coastal Wetland Khuzdar Kund Malir Makran Coastal Highway Mehrgarh Moola Chotok Pir Ghaib Waterfall Balochistan Quaid e Azam Residency Quetta The princess of hope Balochistan Urak Valley Zhob Ziarat Juniper Forest ZiaratSee also Edit Geography portal Asia portal Pakistan portalBalochistan geographic region Balochistan Afghanistan Balochistan Iran Goth Gorshani List of cities in Balochistan Pakistan by population List of cultural heritage sites in Balochistan Pakistan Insurgency in Balochistan Randghar ChinaReferences Edit DISTRICT WISE CENSUS RESULTS CENSUS 2017 PDF pbscensus gov pk Archived from the original PDF on 29 August 2017 a b Pak population increased by 46 9 between 1998 and 2011 The Times of India Archived from the original on 29 January 2016 Sub national HDI Area Database Global Data Lab hdi globaldatalab org Retrieved 18 August 2021 KPK Achieves Highest Literacy Growth Rate Among All Provinces 9 June 2022 Delimitation of union councils wards in Balochistan completed 11 February 2022 Balochistan province Pakistan Encyclopaedia Britannica Archived from the original on 5 April 2017 Iain Morley Colin Renfrew 2010 The Archaeology of Measurement Comprehending Heaven Earth and Time in Ancient Societies Cambridge University Press p 107 ISBN 9780521119900 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 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 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 M Longworth Dames Balochi Folklore Folklore Vol 13 No 3 29 September 1902 pp 252 274 Tabqat ibn Saad Vol 8 p 471 Saxena Sunil K 2011 History of Medieval India Pinnacle Technology Tarikh al Khulfa Vol 1 pp 214 215 229 urdukhabrain pk 1 January 2018 Archived from the original on 1 January 2018 Iranica com dead link Ghulam Shah Kalhora and Relations With Kutch Archived from the original on 19 February 2015 Retrieved 30 December 2014 Henige David P 1970 Colonial Governors from the Fifteenth Century to the Present A Comprehensive List University of Wisconsin Press p 89 The British began to assume control over the rough desert region in extreme western India known as Baluchistan in the 1870s Dashti Naseer 2012 The Baloch and Balochistan A Historical Account from the Beginning to the Fall of the Baloch State Trafford Publishing p 247 ISBN 978 1 4669 5896 8 Peter R Blood 1996 Pakistan A Country Study DIANE Publishing p 20 Foreign Affairs Pakistan Volume 32 Issues 11 12 Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2005 p 257 Afzal M Rafique 2001 Pakistan History and Politics 1947 1971 Oxford University Press p 40 ISBN 978 0 19 579634 6 Besides the Balochistan Muslim League three pro Congress parties were still active in Balochistan s politics the Anjuman i Watan the Jamiatul Ulama u Hind and the Qalat State National Party Ranjan Amit 2018 Partition of India Postcolonial Legacies Taylor amp Francis ISBN 9780429750526 Furthermore Congress leadership of Balochistan was united and there was no disagreement over its president Samad Khan Achakzai On the other hand Qazi Isa was the president of the League in Balochistan Surprisingly he was neither a Balochi nor a Sardar Consequently all Sardars except Jaffar Khan Jamali were against Qazi Isa for contesting this seat Hasnat Syed Farooq 2011 Global Security Watch Pakistan Praeger pp 94 113 ISBN 978 0 313 34697 2 Shahi Jirga Records Balochistan Archives Government of Balochistan Directorate of Archives Archived from the original on 7 March 2014 Retrieved 24 September 2021 a b c Pervaiz I Cheema Manuel Riemer 22 August 1990 Pakistan s Defence Policy 1947 58 Palgrave Macmillan UK pp 60 ISBN 978 1 349 20942 2 a b c d e f Sheikh Salman Rafi 2018 The Genesis of Baloch Nationalism Politics and Ethnicity in Pakistan 1947 1977 Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 1 351 02068 8 Yaqoob Khan Bangash 10 May 2015 The princely India The News on Sunday Archived from the original on 25 December 2015 a b Qaiser Butt 22 April 2013 Princely Liaisons The Khan family controls politics in Kalat The Express Tribune Archived from the original on 22 December 2015 D Long Roger Singh Gurharpal Samad Yunas Talbot Ian 2015 State and Nation Building in Pakistan Beyond Islam and Security Routledge p 82 ISBN 978 1 317 44820 4 Farhan Hanif Siddiqi 2012 The Politics of Ethnicity in Pakistan The Baloch Sindhi and Mohajir Ethnic Movements Routledge p 71 ISBN 978 0 415 68614 3 a b Hussain Zahid 25 April 2013 The battle for Balochistan Dawn Archived from the original on 22 June 2015 Since Balochistan became part of Pakistan some 65 years ago Baloch nationalists have led four insurgencies in 1948 1958 59 1962 63 and 1973 1977 which were brutally suppressed by the state Now a fifth is under way and this time the insurgents are much stronger Unlike the past the educated middle class youth rather than tribal leaders are leading the separatist movement Rashid Ahmed 22 February 2014 Balochistan The untold story of Pakistan s other war BBC News Archived from the original on 28 July 2015 The fifth Baloch insurgency against the Pakistan state began in 2003 with small guerrilla attacks by autonomy seeking Baloch groups who over the years have become increasingly militant and separatist in ideology 37pc Baloch favour independence UK survey Archived 15 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine thenews com pk Retrieved 2017 03 07 RAW conspiring against CPEC agreement Sarfraz Bugti Dunya News Archived from the original on 3 September 2015 RAW behind Mastung killings Sarfraz Bugti The News International Pakistan 31 May 2015 Archived from the original on 2 June 2015 RAW more active after CPEC agreement Sarfraz Bugti Pakistan Times Archived from the original on 5 August 2015 Arab legacy lingers as Pakistan s Gwadar grows from tiny fishing town into port city Arab News 29 April 2019 Bolan Pass Encyclopaedia Britannica Eleventh Edition Pakmet com pk Pakistan s Biggest Property Website PakMet Archived from the original on 2 September 2010 Districts Government of Balochistan Archived from the original on 7 August 2010 Retrieved 13 August 2010 New districts DAWN 23 October 2018 Correspondent The Newspaper s Staff 30 June 2021 New division two districts created in Balochistan DAWN COM District Wise Results Tables Census 2017 Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Archived from the original on 12 September 2021 Retrieved 14 September 2021 Country escapes major earthquake damage Daily Times 20 January 2011 Archived from the original on 11 December 2013 Harnai is new district of Balochistan Dawn Com 31 August 2007 Archived from the original on 24 December 2013 Kharan and Noshki District PDF American Refugee Committee July 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 25 July 2011 Retrieved 16 February 2014 Population Area and Density by Region Province PDF Federal Bureau of Statistics Government of Pakistan 2009 1998 Archived from the original PDF on 18 November 2008 Population shoots up by 47 percent since 1998 Thenews com pk 29 March 2012 Archived from the original on 1 July 2012 Pakistan Balochistan Economic Report From Periphery to Core In Two Volumes Volume II Full Report Archived 1 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine The World Bank May 2008 The Balochistan population totalled 4 5 million in 1981 82 and 7 8 million in 2004 05 NIPS estimates that Balochistan s population growth will slow down to 1 3 percent by 2025 a b CCI defers approval of census results until elections a b Percentage Distribution of Households by Language Usually Spoken and Region Province 1998 Census PDF Pakistan Statistical Year Book 2008 Federal Bureau of Statistics Government of Pakistan Archived PDF from the original on 2 April 2020 Retrieved 2 April 2020 Number of Balochi speaking people in Balochistan falls Balochistan Encyclopaedia Britannica 2009 Archived from the original on 25 December 2009 Cf Grierson George A 1919 Linguistic Survey of India Vol VIII Part 1 Indo Aryan family North western group Specimens of Sindhi and Lahnda Calcutta Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing India p 158 and Scholz Fred 2002 1974 Nomadism amp colonialism a hundred years of Baluchistan 1872 1972 Karachi Oxford New York Oxford University Press p 29 ISBN 978 0 19 579638 4 Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit AREU Afghans in Quetta Settlements Livelihoods Support Networks and Cross Border Linkages January 2006 available at http www unhcr org refworld docid 47c3f3c412 html accessed 7 January 2013 Law and order issues Afghan refugees do not want to go back home The Express Tribune 16 January 2015 Archived from the original on 2 August 2015 a b SALIENT FEATURES OF FINAL RESULTS CENSUS 2017 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 29 August 2021 Retrieved 8 August 2021 Population by Religion PDF Archived PDF from the original on 9 October 2022 Retrieved 8 August 2021 a b Population Distribution by Religion 1998 Census PDF Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Archived PDF from the original on 26 December 2016 Retrieved 26 December 2016 Population by Religion PDF pbs gov pk Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Archived from the original PDF on 19 July 2019 Retrieved 14 June 2021 In a Muslim majority country a Hindu goddess lives on Culture amp History 10 January 2019 CENSUS OF INDIA 1941 VOLUME XIV BALUCHISTAN TheNews Epaper e thenews com pk e thenews com pk Chima Jugdep S 2015 Ethnic Subnationalist Insurgencies in South Asia Identities Interests and Challenges to State Authority Routledge p 126 ISBN 978 1138839922 Archived from the original on 20 March 2018 Baloch ruling elite s lifestyle outshines that of Arab royals Dawn 22 March 2012 Archived from the original on 6 July 2015 a b Kupecz Mickey Pakistan s Baloch Insurgency History Conflict Drivers and Regional Implications PDF International Affairs Review 20 3 96 7 Archived from the original PDF on 1 July 2015 Jetly Rajsree Resurgence of the Baluch Movement in Pakistan Emerging Perspectives and Challenges in Jetly Rajshree ed Pakistan in Regional and Global Politics New York Routledge 2009 215 Baloch Sanaullah The Baloch Conflict Towards a Lasting Peace Pakistan Security Research Unit No 7 March 2007 5 6 7th NFC Award signed in Gwadar dawn com 31 December 2009 Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Webb Matthew 2015 The Political Economy of Conflict in South Asia Palgrave Macmillan pp 64 65 ISBN 978 1137397430 Archived from the original on 20 March 2018 Poverty in Balochistan 8 November 2016 Gawader Pakistan Board of Investment Archived from the original on 2 October 2006 Retrieved 19 November 2006 Mirani Dam Project National Engineering Services Pakistan Archived from the original on 6 February 2006 Retrieved 19 November 2006 A matter of weeks Byco ready to utilise its Hub refinery 4 July 2014 Archived from the original on 13 December 2014 International Cement Review Attock Cement first half profit declines Pakistan Archived from the original on 30 December 2014 Retrieved 30 December 2014 International Conference on Marble Industry held at Expo Centre AAJ News Archived from the original on 30 December 2014 Southern cement companies win freight subsidy 20 April 2010 Archived from the original on 30 December 2014 Ship breaking at Gadani 23 October 2011 Archived from the original on 30 December 2014 Provincial Accounts of Pakistan Methodology and Estimates 1973 2000 PDF 1 January 2018 Archived from the original PDF on 2 January 2018 Siterresources worldbank org Archived 1 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine 260 billion gold mines going for a song behind closed doors Thenews com pk Archived from the original on 13 January 2012 List of banned organisations in Pakistan Tribune com pk 24 October 2012 Archived from the original on 26 October 2012 Office Home 15 July 2016 PROSCRIBED TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS PDF Home Office p 9 Archived PDF from the original on 26 October 2016 Retrieved 16 July 2016 US declares BLA as terrorist outfit Express Tribune 2 July 2019 Archived from the original on 8 July 2019 Gunmen attack hotel in Pakistan s Gwadar kill five people www aljazeera com Archived from the original on 27 May 2020 Pakistan hotel attack gunmen shot dead 12 May 2019 Archived from the original on 12 May 2019 Further reading EditJohnson 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 desert insoumis Paris Nathan Image 1991 136 p ISBN 2 09 240036 3External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balochistan Pakistan Balochistan Pakistan at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel information from Wikivoyage Resources from Wikiversity Official website Sibi District Archived 11 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine 1 Archived 11 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine Guide to Balochistan Balochistan Archives Preserving our Past Balochistan at Curlie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balochistan Pakistan amp oldid 1133527187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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