Balochistan facing perilous economic conditions

QUETTA: Perilous economic conditions, depleting foreign exchange reserves, rupee depreciation, balance of payments crisis, the current account deficit and the ballooning circular debt have taken the centre stage across Pakistan.

The overall financial situation of Balochistan is devastating, for which, the provincial government blames the federation for non-payment of the remaining amount of Rs30 billion from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, in a video message, said that despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, the federal departments have completely neglected the province.

“If the federation does not provide due attention to the crisis, the situation will worsen,” he said, adding that the federal government has still not transferred the pending amounts of Rs30 billion of the current fiscal year and Rs15 billion of the last fiscal year.

According to the chief minister, if the province remained unable to clear the dues of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) worth Rs30 billion, then the provincial government would be forced to take certain strict measures.

Bizenjo said the provincial government is facing a lot of difficulties in paying salaries to its employees.

“Balochistan is only asking for its constitutional rights and the federation should help the province get out of the financial crunch,” he remarked.

The recent flash floods had already caused much damage to the infrastructure and agriculture of Balochistan.

Of the total loss of Rs32 billion in the recent floods, Balochistan is among the most affected. Unquestionably, the economy of the province is badly affected, the villages have been washed away, people in camps and tents are stunting, children are dying of diseases, the health situation is worsening and the people are freezing in cold weather, while the government does not have enough to pay the salaries of the employees.

In such a situation, the chief minister’s statements are not helping at all. The people are suffering, while the people at the helm of affairs are playing a blame game.

Pakistan has played an exceptional role in the climate diplomacy at the Sharm El Sheikh COP27 in Egypt, where a loss and damage fund was established for the climate-stricken countries.

And the follow up donors’ conference was the result of Pakistan’s advocacy for climate justice for the countries who are not major emitters and have a very minor share in global emission.

The climate justice about which Pakistan is advocating internationally and is at the forefront, representing the climate-affected countries should not forget that its federating units have to be provided with the due share.

Provincial Agriculture Minister and Balochistan National Party (Awami) Central Secretary General Mir Asadullah Baloch said that the federal government should give priority to Balochistan in the provision of its due share from the NFC Award and also should provide a major share in the upcoming aid worth over $9 billion pledged in the donors’ conference.

According to Baloch: “The federal governments had always deprived the province from the loans, assistance and donations it collected from across the world in the last 75 years. The entire province lacks proper support from the federal governments.”

For him, no development work has been carried out in Balochistan for the last many years.

Shakoor Ahmed, a resident of Brewery Road Quetta, said that the provincial capital is witnessing significant migration of the people from the rural areas, owing to the lack of basic facilities of food and housing after the flash floods.

Besides, the salaries are not being paid and the skyrocketed commodity prices are making it difficult for the people to survive, he added.

According to Ahmed, it seems the politicians have turned a deaf ear to the problems being faced by the people of the province and are only engaged in proving their loyalties to the party heads in preparation for the next general elections.