Gwadar protest

For over a month, the people of Gwadar had been holding a protest in the port city, calling upon the state to fulfil a number of their demands. The Prime Minister himself took notice of the protest, tweeting about the “legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar” while the federal cabinet had also discussed the issue. The protest was finally called off on December 16 when the state assured the demonstrators that their demands had been accepted.

The protest movement had been spearheaded by Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, a local leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami, while protests in other parts of Balochistan had also been held in solidarity with the Gwadar demonstrators. The list of the protesters’ demands was lengthy. These included calling for an end to illegal trawlers; freedom for fishermen to go to sea; establishment of a university; provision of drinking water etc.

It is welcome that the state has engaged with the protesters and promised to deliver on their demands. Moreover, the state can take this opportunity to look at the deeper issues affecting Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province.

It would be easy to brush aside protests such as these as being instigated by inimical forces. While hostile foreign actors can indeed take advantage of the situation, the fact remains that these were Pakistanis protesting for their constitutional rights, and it is heartening that the state approached them with a sympathetic ear. There can be little argument with the fact that Balochistan lags behind in all development figures; it is said to have the highest proportion of out of school children nationally, while the poverty and employment figures from the province are also not encouraging.

While it is commonly assumed that the antiquated sardari system en vogue in parts of the province is the main obstacle in Balochistan’s progress, this is only partially true. For example, even areas where the sardars don’t hold sway — such as Gwadar — have not seen the fruits of development. Therefore, it can be said that in many ways the state has failed to deliver to the people of Balochistan, and it is not too late to change track and bring prosperity to this vast, stunningly beautiful province that boasts of immense mineral wealth, and is also blessed with a long, pristine coastline.

The state must move beyond words and put in place solid plans that can bring health, education and prosperity to the people of Balochistan. The state must tell the people of Quetta, Gwadar and Khuzdar that they are just as valuable to Pakistan as the people of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Mistakes have been made and it is not too late to rectify them. Let the benefits of CPEC reach the people of Balochistan; locals must be given preference in jobs and education, and if they lack the skills they must be trained to meet the challenges.

Unfortunately, if poverty and despair continue to haunt Balochistan, enemies of Pakistan will exploit this situation, which is why the state must act with haste to counter these nefarious designs. It must be said loud and clear that the people of Balochistan are cherished citizens of Pakistan and they will be given the rights promised to them by the Constitution of this country. While the state must remain alert to hostile foreign attempts to exploit genuine grievances, the protesters must be assured that their government stands by them, feels their pain and will address their concerns to the best of its ability.

Hostile actors do not want to see Gwadar prosper and see CPEC succeed, which is why they will do their utmost to spread despair in Balochistan. To take the wind out of their sails, the state must deliver and bring prosperity and development to the poorest, most far-flung corners of Balochistan. Once positive changes are set in motion, the people should be convinced that their lives are improving, and will not fall prey to hostile propaganda. This way, the agents of hostile powers trying to foment unrest in the name of so-called Baloch independence will also be neutralised. The state must also emphasise the fact that these negative actors tend to work up the local population, while living in luxurious exile abroad.

The people of Balochistan must be told that they matter, and that the state cares for them and their children. The best way to do this is to promise them solid deliverables, and then put in full efforts to help materially change the situation in the province.