Part III: Implementation

Part II: The Building Blocks of the BCS

The BCS has been constructed in a manner of brickwork masonry, each brick or block has a precise entity of its own and independently provides substantial information and quantitative data pertinent to a particular sector. The opening blocks of part II deal with the resource base on which the population generally subsists. The next two are with regard to industry and urban environment. Then come three blocks defining relationship between the people and their environment in the context of health, population, poverty and cultural heritage. The concluding five blocks suggest implementation of the BCS.

Being the largest province of Pakistan, with an area of 347,200 sq. kms, Balochistan has always held a strategic position in terms of access to the Asian Region, natural resource base including coastal and marine resources of Arabian Sea and migratory avenues of wildlife.

Mountains and pebble-strewn terrain form greater part of the local landscape and only 15% of the total area is available for civic settlements, agriculture and development of infrastructure. Insignificant and improper land use has also been a vital cause of delayed progression of the province. A Land-use Planning Commission is to attempt corrections in this relevance.

An Electronic Resource Atlas would also be actualized to provide specific information in connection with the indigenous resources.

Taking into account the neglected seismic activity and making a risk assessment, particularly in the proposed areas of seaports and mega hydro-technical structures, is also provided by the strategy. As only 6% of the total landed area of the province is currently under cultivation, a more prolific methodology is to be adopted to accrue maximum out of the available resource base and, besides, attempt to extend the acreage of present arable soil.

Unfortunately, in this inherently arid province, conservation of freshwater and its sustainable use have not been effected in the manner it ought to be, particularly when viewed in the perspective of severe scarcity of freshwater resources.

The strategy entails for forming a roundtable consisting of all stakeholders to devise ways for sustainable use of available water resources, harness surface run-off and attempt for yielding water-harvesting systems. A sovereign Water Board will be formed, initially for Pishin Lora Basin, to regulate issues relating to both, the conservation and exploitation of available water resources.

Biodiversity

Balochistan, apart from possessing other distinctively important characteristics, is host of a broad based Biodiversity. Though the flora is not yet extensively explored, species of Central Asia, Near East and Himalayan affinities dot the landscape of the province. Juniper forests, spread over an area of 141,000 hectors, are also a marked character of the unique and globally significant Biodiversity of Balochistan. Diverse climatic, geophysical and environmental conditions have eventuated in numerous ecosystems and habitats. The province is also punctuated with a number of wetlands, which, though, disproportional in terms of area, are to be viewed in the context of arid behavior of the region.

A number of endangered species are also part of the peculiar Biodiversity of Balochistan, among which are Chiltan Markhor, Straight Horned Markhor, Balochistan Black Bear, Urial and also the Green Turtle from coastal zone.

5.3% of the total landmass of Balochistan has been declared as protected area but the objective for which the areas have been designated as protected is seldom achieved. Biodiversity Action Plan of Pakistan warrants effective conservation of regional Biodiversity and its specific ecosystem.

Coastal Zone

770 Km stretched coastal belt of Balochistan is grossly neglected area in almost all the sectors of social and environmental sphere. Recognized as large productive source, particularly for the coastal inhabitants, the area has not been afforded its due share out of the development initiatives propelled by the government and other development organizations. Though, now, the federal and the provincial governments have taken up the task of extensive development in the Mekran Division particularly Gwadar, nevertheless, the issue of environmental conservation can still be provided with enhanced resources and support. The BCS, in this regard, has proposed an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) which will not only address the socio-economic sufferings of the local population but will also ensure conservation of vulnerable Biodiversity of the coastal stretch.

Atmosphere

Not much reliable and scientific data relating to the atmospheric behavior of province is available and which, indeed, is a noticeable impediment in making precise forecasts with regards to monsoons, droughts, cyclones in the coastal zone and shifting and re-locating of sand dunes in desert areas.

Minerals, Mining and Energy

The province of Balochistan, exorbitantly mineral rich, is yet to face environmental degradation associated with large-scale mining. The mining industry, although, extremely lucrative is not that productive as it should have been for a number of reasons, significant among which are out-dated mining practices, lack of proper infrastructure, unreliable and erratic water and electric supply and deficient skilled workforce. Notable minerals of Balochistan are coal, marble, sulphur, berite, zinc and copper. A mega facility for mining and refining of copper is being established at Saindak but the project is in jeopardy since long.

As for energy, the coal and gas produced by Balochistan suffice 40% needs of the country but, ironically, 80% fuel requirement of Balochistan is met with through bio-mass energy like fire wood and cow dung. Low gas consumption is because of inadequate supply network. Electricity, albeit, has been extended to almost half of the settlements but the supply is undependable and irregular.

Sustainable Industrial Development

Principal contributor to the success of Poverty Alleviation Programme is industrial developmental but it should not be at the cost of over exploitation of available natural resources. In Balochistan the process of industrialization has not been an eventful venture as the indigenous resource base and economic environment was not given due consideration while setting up of industrial units, particularly at Hub and Winder. A reinvigorated policy is to be chalked out for optimum, environmentally considerate and economically viable industrialization. This will be linked to the availability of raw material, skilled workforce and a permeable market.

Urban Environment

Main threat to the already degrading urban environment is the rapid and unchecked urbanization. If viewed as per current pattern of urbanization, by the year 2030, almost 50% population of the province will inhabit the urban centers with a particular reference to Quetta. This will further deteriorate the already messed up state of water supply, sanitation, air and noise pollution and lack of housing facilities.

To arrest the situation it is grossly imperative to devise a strategy potent enough to decelerate, if not halt outright, the flow of rural population towards the cities. This will include providing of efficient infrastructure in the rural areas, creating job opportunities, affording facilities like water supply, health, education and other social services to the rural population and upgrading their socio-economic status.

Environmental Health

The sector of environmental health has also suffered the wide range neglect of the public sector. Though, now, emphasis has been laid upon preventive healthcare, yet the state of general health is significantly discreditable as compared to the other parts of the country. The areas of life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal mortality and spread of communicable diseases are a precise example in this regard. Vaccine preventable diseases are still prevalent. Relentless use of pesticides and agrochemicals and lack of hygiene and health awareness has also aggravated the situation. The corrective measures, in this connection, appear to be establishment of close coordination among the departments responsible for environmental health, dissemination of environmental and health information to promote awareness, yielding legislation and its effective implementation and, most consequential of all, a strengthened institute of public health as the lead agency.

Population, Poverty and Environment

Inter-relatedness of population, poverty and environment is a stark reality and any one sector neglected or incapacitated has its visible implications on the other two. For Balochistan, with highest population growth rate, significantly degraded environment and abject and pervasive poverty, it is a long way to go in order to effect rectification of muddled state of affairs and need of an integrated corrective strategy is certainly critical. The BCS, for the purpose, provides a deep insight and the governments’ Poverty Alleviation Strategy has been circumstantially reviewed. Primary proposition in this direction is the establishment of a roundtable which will not only explicate the linkage among the three interrelated sectors but will also help to attempt implementation of specific socio-economic uplift programmes.

Cultural Heritage

Identical to other sectors of interest, Balochistan is justly proud to own a rich cultural heritage. Evidence of human presence in Balochistan dates back to Paleolithic era (10,000-40,000 BC). A number of Neolithic sites have also been discovered which testify the hypothesis that Balochistan had been origin of the famous Indus valley civilization. Strong indications regarding plant and animal domestication have been provided by these sites. This rich heritage of the province, which could have attracted massive tourist influx has not been appropriately protected and conserved. A perfunctory legislation in the shape of Pakistan Antiquities Act (1975) does exist to protect the archeological sites but has seldom been put to use. A strategy for conservation of this spectacular cultural heritage of Balochistan is to be crafted with a particular emphasis on participatory approach.

Good Governance and accountability have always been on the agenda of all the governments but practically no concrete effort in this direction has ever been made. As for BCS, without good governance and inflexible accountability, it can hardly succeed. The notable impeding factor in the attainment of sustainable development had been lack of capacity. Centralized decision-making is another major obstruction in the course of progression. To encounter the hindrances a methodology, with incorporation of devolution of power, participatory management, transparency and accountability, is need of the hour.

Importance of the role of NGOs in the society cannot be disregarded altogether. The non-governmental sector, in the recent past, in Balochistan has shown a significant growth, notwithstanding a number of obstacles in its progress. Some of these encumbrances are scarcity of human resources, insubstantial donor-NGO relationship, flawed image due to some corrupt and wasteful organizations and lack of information and professionalism.

Apart from this, main focus of the non-governmental sector appears to be on community projects and service delivery and the sector of macro development exhibits a vacuum so far the NGOs are concerned. The situation can be made to recover by building capacity of smaller organizations, providing an easy access to the needed information and making to them available platforms like BCS to communicate with the policy makers and influence the process of policy making. Strong government-NGO linkage and creation of roundtable will be the corner stone of the strategy.

Gender, Development and Environment

Majority of development interventions in the province are male oriented and a gender-sensitive setting is yet to take shape. Gender related approaches, though, are now being introduced but, in the peculiar social backdrop of the area, do not appear to bear fruit hastily. The change, however, is possible and the example of the coastal areas of Balochistan can justly be quoted in this regard. The women of these areas, in the absence of their men out for fishing, have taken up a number of responsibilities for themselves and are playing a prominent role in the local society.

Information Management

For a meaningful development strategy, availability of relevant and abundant information vitally necessary. The government departments, in this connection, acutely lack coordination and collecting and accumulating of needed information for the government departments has not been an easy task. This, although have few exceptions and the departments with extended outreach, like the Agriculture Department, do have access to the basic information. The process, however, is hindered by bureaucratic and official barriers. Sharing of information by the government departments is also not clearly visible.

Steps are now being taken to facilitate the flow of information among the departments particularly the P&DD and other development agencies. The BCS provides for a Development Information Management policy. Besides, re-structuring of the Bureau of Statistics, development of policy which recognizes the local knowledge and establishment of a Development Information Users Group are also among the prioritized concerns of the BCS.

Environmental Communication and Education

Throughout the BCS, emphasis has been laid upon the need of raising of environmental awareness and dissemination of information and education for environmental conservation. In as much as for the low literacy rate and poor newspaper readership, distinct avenues are to be explored for promoting the environmental awareness. The strategy to achieve the objective demonstrates educating the tribal and religious leaders, building capacity of government officials, NGOs and the media, promoting participation of women’s organizations and incorporating education and awareness programmes in all development activities.

Part III: Implementation