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Balochistan, Pakistan

Coordinates: 30°07′N 67°01′E / 30.12°N 67.01°E / 30.12; 67.01
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Template:Pakistan infobox Balochistan is the largest province in the country of Pakistan by geographical area, constituting approximately 48% of the total area of Pakistan. According to 2009 estimates, Balochistan has a population of roughly 10 million. Its neighbouring regions are Iran to the west, Afghanistan and the North West Frontier Province to the north, Punjab and Sindh to the east. To the south is the Arabian Sea. The principal languages in the province are the native Balochi and Brahui, but majority language is Pashto. Other languages spoken are Sindhi, Hazaragi, and Persian. The capital and largest city is Quetta, which although a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual city, the ethnic Pashtuns form the largest group and not the Baloch. Balochistan is believed to be rich in mineral resources. It is the second major supplier, after Sindh, of natural gas to the country.

Geography

Balochistan is located at the south-eastern edge of the Iranian plateau. It strategically bridges the Middle East and Southwest Asia to Central Asia and South Asia, and forms the closest oceanic frontage for the land-locked countries of Central Asia.

By the surface area, Balochistan is easily the largest of the four provinces of Pakistan at 347,190 km² (134,051 mi²), which composes approximately 44% of the total land area of Pakistan. The population density is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. The southern region is known as Makran. The central region is known as Kalat.

The Sulaiman Mountains dominate the northeast corner and the Bolan Pass is a natural route into Afghanistan towards Kandahar, used as a passageway during the British campaigns to Afghanistan.[1] Much of the province south of the Quetta region is sparse desert terrain with pockets of towns mostly near rivers and streams.

The capital city is Quetta, located in the most densely populated district in the northeast of the province. Quetta is situated in a river valley near the border with Afghanistan, with a road to Kandahar in the northwest.

At Gwadar on the coast of the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean, the Pakistani government is currently undertaking a large project with Chinese help to build a large port.

Climate

Very cold winters and hot summers characterise the climate of the upper highlands. Winters of the lower highlands vary from extremely cold in the northern districts to mild conditions closer to the Makran coast. Summers are hot and dry, especially the arid zones of Chaghai and Kharan districts. The plain areas are also very hot in summer with temperatures rising as high as 120 °F (49 °C). Winters are mild on the plains with the temperature never falling below the freezing point. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitable.

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%
2005 9,839,417 23.89%

Balochistan has a population of around 10 million inhabitants, which makes up approximately 5% of the Pakistani population. Overall, the Baloch population is about 52% whilst the Pastho and Brohi are 40% of the province's population[citation needed] and 8% are other small minorities. The rest are mainly Hazaras , Sindhis and Punjabi. Balochi speaking people are concentrated in the sparsely populated north-west, west, east, south and southeast; Brohui speaking in the centre of the province, while the Pashtuns are the majority in the north. The Kalat and Mastung area speak a Brohi. Quetta, the capital of the province, is largely populated with Pashtuns, with significantBaloch and Hazara minorities. A large number of Balochs moved in Quetta after it became the capital of Balochistan in 1970. Near the Kalat region and other parts of the province there are significant numbers of Baloch Brahui speakers. Along the coast various Makrani Balochi speaking predominate. In addition, Afghan refugees can be found in the province including Pashtuns and Tajiks. Many Sindhi farmers have also moved to the more arable lands in the east. There are also a growing number of other ethnic groups consisting of Kurdish, Panjabi, Mohajir and Iranians who have made Balochistan their home in recent decades.[citation needed]

Copper Deposits

One of the world's largest copper deposits (and its matrix-associated residual gold) have been found at Reko Diq in the Chagai District of Balochistan. Reko Diq is a giant mining project in Chaghi. The main license (EL5) is held jointly by the Government of Balochistan (25%), Antofagasta Minerals (37.5%) and Barrick Gold (37.5%). The deposits at Reko Diq are hoped to be even bigger than those of Sarcheshmeh in Iran and Escondida in Chile (presently, the second and the third largest proven deposits of copper in the world).

BHP Billiton, the world's largest copper mining company, began the project in cooperation with the Australian firm Tethyan, entering into a joint venture with the Balochistan government. The potential annual copper production has been estimated to be 900,000 to 2.2 million tons. [citation needed]. The deposits seem to be largely of porphyry rock nature.[citation needed]

Flora and Fauna

Provincial symbols of Balochistan
Provincial animal

Blandford's Fox

Dromedary camel
Provincial bird Houbara bustard
Provincial tree Date palm
Provincial flower Ephedra (genus)
  • Fauna of Balochistan (Pakistan)
  • Flora of Balochistan (Pakistan)

Society

Balochistan culture is primarily tribal, deeply patriarchal and conservative. Baloch society is dominated by tribal chieftains called "Sardars", who are the ruling elite of Balochistan and have been criticized for blocking the educational development and empowerment of the Baloch people[citation needed][weasel words], lest the their status quo be challenged.

'Honour killings' are commonplace but completely discouraged by majorities.[2] In one recent incident in August 2008, the Asian Human Rights Commission reported that five women (including three teenagers) in a remote village had been beaten, shot and buried alive in a ditch for the crime of seeking to choose their own husbands. One of the tribesmen involved was the younger brother of a provincial minister from the ruling Pakistan People's Party, and local police therefore refused to take any action.[3]

After human rights activists brought the case to national and international attention, Israr Ullah Zehri, who represents Balochistan in the Pakistani Parliament, defended the killings and asked his fellow legislators not to make a fuss about the incident. He told Parliament, "These are centuries-old traditions, and I will continue to defend them. Only those who indulge in immoral acts should be afraid." But many Baloch literate are against the horrific crimes which took place in Balochistan. According to majority of Baloch, the person or tribe head should be brought to the court and must be punished. Many Baloch or Balochis have denied the fact that Karo Kari is part of Balochi culture. They claim it was a nomad cultural thing which has been stopped for many years, but because of the poor administration of Pakistani government and to demilitarize the Baloch awareness such act are taken place.[4]

Other traditional tribal punishments which contradict Pakistani as well as international law, such as making criminals walk over coal fires, have also come to light recently. [citation needed]

History

Main article: History of Balochistan

Balochistan was the site of the earliest known farming settlements upon the Iranian plateau bordering South Asia, the earliest of which was Mehrgarh dated at 6500 BCE. Pakistani Balochistan corresponds to the ancient Achaemenid province of Gedrosia. Balochistan was sparsely populated by various tribes, possibly of Dravidian and Indo-Iranian origin, for centuries following the decline of the nearby Harappa-Mohenjo-daro civilisation to the east. Over time, Balochistan was invaded by various Eurasian groups including the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Kushans, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals, Afghans, and the British. Aryan invasions appear to have led to the eventual demise of the Elamo-Dravidian[5] Brahui tribes who were original people of the land where Balochs arrived later but now have mixed together. Aryan invasions appear to likely they are an Iranian group who have possibly absorbed Arab ancestry and cultural traits instead, it is also believed that Baloch are of Arab blood, it could be they left the Arab world when Iraq broke from Persia in 652 AD and there is historical evidence that suggests they lived in (Khuzestan) and (Bushehr) before moving to Kerman and Hormozgan. The Balochs began to arrive from their homeland in north-west Iran and appear to be an offshoot of the Medes, another branch being that of Kurdish tribes that would mainly populate the western end of the Iranian plateau. The Baloch tribes eventually became a sizeable group rivalled only by another Iranian group where Brohis and Pashtuns came under influences of Balochs.

Islam's arrival in Balochistan

What is now Balochistan Province province of Pakistan, in the 7th century was divided into two main regions, its south western parts were part of Kermān Province of the Persian Empire and north eastern region was part of the Persian province Sistan. The southern region was included in Makran. In early 644, Caliph Umar sent Suhail ibn Adi from Busra to conquer the Kerman region of Iran; he was made governor of Kerman. From Kerman he entered the western Baluchistan and conquered the region near to Persian frontiers.[6] South Western Baluchistan was conquered during the campaign in Sistan the same year. During Caliph Uthman’s reign in 652, Baluchistan was re-conquered during the campaign against the revolt in Kerman, under the command of Majasha ibn Masood, it was first time when western Baluchistan came directly under the Laws of Caliphate and gave tribute on agriculture.[7] In those days western Baluchistan was included in the dominion of Kerman. In 654 Abdulrehman ibn Samrah was made governor of Sistan, an Islamic army was sent under him to crush the revolt in Zarang, which is now in southern Afghanistan. Conquering Zarang a column moved north ward to conquer areas up to Kabul and Ghazni in Hindu Kush Mountains, while another column moved towards North western Baluchistan and conquered area up to the ancient city of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan),[8] by 654 the whole of what is now Baluchistan province of Pakistan was under the rule of Rashidun Caliphate except for the well defended mountain town of QaiQan (now Kalat), which was conquered during Caliph Ali’s reign.[9] Abdulrehman ibn Samrah made Zaranj his provincial capital and remained governor of these conquered areas from 654 to 656, until Uthman was murdered. During the Caliphate of Ali, the areas of Baluchistan, Makran again broke into revolt. Due to civil war in the Islamic empire Ali was unable to deal with these areas until 660 when he sent a large force under the command of Haris ibn Marah Abdi towards Makran, Baluchistan and Sind. Haris ibn Marah Abdi arrived in Makran and conquered it by force then moved north ward to north eastern Baluchistan and re-conquered Qandabil (Bolan), then again moving south finally conquered Qaiqan (Kalat) after a fierce battle[citation needed]. Rashidun Caliphate and he budget for the province in recent years with greater emphasis on education, roads and increased job opportunities. [citation needed]

A Baloch shepherd, from a 1900 photo

In 15th century Mir Chakar Khan Rind became first king of Baluchistan. Balochistan subsequently was dominated by empires based in Iran and Afghanistan as well as the Mughal Empire based in India. Nadir Shah won the allegiance of the rulers of Baluchistan, and later the successor of Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah Durrani also won allegiance of that areas rulers. The area would eventually revert to local Baloch control, while parts of the northern regions would continue to be dominated by Pashtun tribes.

During the period of the British Raj, there were four Princely states in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876 Sir Robert Sandeman concluded a treaty with the Khan of Kalat and brought his territories - including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela - under British suzerainty. After the Second Afghan War of 1878-80, the Treaty of Gandamak concluded in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta Pishin,Sibi, Harnai, and Thal Chotiali to the British. In 1883 the British leased the Bolan Pass, southeast of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat on a permanent basis. In 1887 some areas of Balochistan were declared British territory. In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan to as the boundary between the Afghans and the British.

There were two devastating earthquakes in Balochistan during British colonial rule: The 1935 Balochistan Earthquake devastated Quetta and the 1945 Balochistan Earthquake, with its epicentre in Makran region, was felt in other regions of South Asia.

In 1948, one year after the Partition of India, Balochistan joined Pakistan.

On 15 June, 2006, an estimated 600 fighters, led by three commanders, agreed to lay down their weapons after talks with Shoaib Nausherwani, Baluchistan's minister for internal affairs, in Dera Bugti district.[10] On August 26, Balochistan tribal leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani military.[11]

Provincial Government

Main article: Government of Balochistan

The Unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 4% are reserved for non-Muslims and 16% for women only.

Administrative Districts

Template:Districts of Balochistan (Pakistan) Map

Major cities

Main article: List of cities in Balochistan Province

Economy

Balochistan's share of the National Economy has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.[12] The economy of the province is largely based upon the production of natural gas, coal and minerals. Outside Quetta, the infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan. Tourism remains limited but has increased due to the exotic appeal of the province. Limited farming in the east as well as fishing along the Arabian Sea coastline are other forms of income and sustenance for the local populations. Due to the tribal lifestyle of many Baluch and Brahui, animal husbandry is important as are trading bazaars found throughout the province.

Though the province remains largely underdeveloped, there are currently several major development projects in progress in Balochistan, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar.[13] The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China and the Central Asian republics. There is considerable Chinese involvement in the project, leading some to consider Gwadar it as the Chinese outpost on the Arabian Sea.[14] The total cost of the project is estimated at more than US$2 billion. China has also invested in a coastal highway to link Gwadar with Pakistan's largest city, Karachi.[15]

Further west is the Mirani Dam[16] multipurpose project, on the River Dasht, 50 kilometres west of Turbat in the Makran Division. It will provide dependable irrigation supplies for the development of agriculture and add more than 35,000 km² of arable land. There is also Chinese involvement in the nearby Saindak gold and copper mining project.

Education

Universities

Colleges

Schools

Chart of the Education Market of Balochistan, 1998

Also see[17]

Qualification Urban Rural Total Enrolment Ratio(%)
— 1,568,780 4,997,105 6,565,885 —
Below Primary 237,827 1,149,334 1,387,161 10.00
Primary 361,760 1,427,173 1,788,933 15.87
Middle 325,051 971,437 1,296,488 17.62
Matriculation 318,932 846,509 1,165,441 31.88
Intermediate 132,248 232,865 365,113 14.13
BA, BSc... degrees 9,726 16,490 260,216 8.57
MA, MSc... degrees 99,303 133,422 232,725 8.17
Diploma, Certificate... 56,319 61,464 117,783 4.62
Other qualifications 27,614 158,411 186,025 2.83

Famous people

There are many famous people from Balochistan including the following: Famous people There are many famous people from Balochistan including the following:

Historical Personalities

Pre-Independence (pre-1947)

Post-Independence (post-1947)

Entertainment
Authors

See also

References

  1. ^ Bolan Pass - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
  2. ^ "Three teenagers buried alive in 'honour killings'" (HTML). Times Online. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  3. ^ "PAKISTAN: Five women buried alive, allegedly by the brother of a minister" (HTML). Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  4. ^ "Pakistani women buried alive 'for choosing husbands'" (HTML). Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  5. ^ David McAlpin, Proto-Elamo-Dravidian, Philadelphia 1981
  6. ^ Ibn Aseer vol: 3 page no: 17
  7. ^ Fatu al Buldan page no:384
  8. ^ Tabqat ibn Saad vol: 8 pg: 471
  9. ^ Fatuh al buldan pg:386
  10. ^ "Baluch fighters surrender in [[Pakistan]]" (HTML). Al-Jazeera Global News. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  11. ^ "Unrest follows death of Baloch 'Tiger'" (HTML). International Relations and Security Network, Switzerland. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  12. ^ Provincial Accounts of Pakistan: Methodology and Estimates 1973-2000
  13. ^ "Gawader" (HTML). Pakistan Board of Investment. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  14. ^ "Gwadar: China's Naval Outpost on the Indian Ocean" (HTML). Association for Asian Research. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  15. ^ "China's pearl in Pakistan's waters" (HTML). Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  16. ^ "[[Mirani Dam]] Project" (HTML). National Engineering Services Pakistan. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  17. ^ http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/pco/statistics/pop_by_province/pop_by_province.html

http://www.balochistaninfo.com/200604/BalochNationalismitsOriginandDevelopment.pdf

  • 30°07′N 67°01′E / 30.12°N 67.01°E / 30.12; 67.01[citation needed] Geo-Links for Balochistan (Pakistan)

Further reading

  • Johnson, E.A., et al. (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. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

Template:Subdivisions of Pakistan Template:Administrative divisions of Balochistan (Pakistan)

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