Balochistan a very rich province but the residents are ironically the poorest among all. Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan holds rich mineral resources including Gold, Silver and Copper. This region falls under the Chinese dream project ‘Belt and Road’ project and Chinese companies have procured authority to dig and enrich Pakistan and China while keeping the local Balochis deprived of the benefits nevertheless they should have been the principal beneficiaries.
Chinese company MCC made a whopping profit of USD 75 million in 2021
As per reports, the Chinese company, Metallurgical Corporation Corp (MCC), which has been authorised to mine Gold, Silver and Copper from the Balochistan province made a whopping profit of USD 75 million in only 2021, when normal activities including excavation of minerals were restricted due to the pandemic.
The profits are being shared by Pak-China Company – Balochis are deprived of any benefit
A Pakistani Company owned by its government Saindak Metals Ltd (SML) first discovered huge deposits of rich mineral resources including Gold, Silver and Copper in this region in the 1970s with the help of Chinese firms. Subsequently, Pakistan and China signed a formal contract in 1995 worth USD 350 million for the development of the mines.
The initial lease period of 10 years to the Chinese company MCC was increased from time to time. And now since the mines are under the direct control of China, the entire wealth of the Balochistan province is being excavated – spoils shared between Pakistan and China and the poor Balochis are denied of any share or benefits. The grievance of the locals that their resources are being exploited by the Government of Pakistan, keeping them deprived of minimum civic amenities seems genuine.
The mines of Balochistan is an ATM for Chinese Companies
Balochistan province has turned out to be an ATM for Chinese Companies, ironically the region remains impoverished and deprived of any development. The per capita GDP is under USD 1000, which makes it apparent that the locals get nothing. Notably, under the contentious agreement signed in 1995, 46-48 per cent of revenue went to MCC, 53 per cent to the Pakistan Government and only a meagre sum of 5-6 per cent to the Balochistan provincial government.
Kurdistan is a similar example of mass-exploitation
There is another similar instance of such exploitation – The Northern part of Iraq i.e. Kurdistan, a very rich oil reserve region has been exploited since Saddam Hussein’s regime. The entire proceeds of the oil procured from this region used to be transferred to the coffers of the Baghdad Government, perforce, keeping the Kurdish region poor, impoverished and without any development. It is here noteworthy to mention – after Saddam Hussein was executed and the powers transferred to the Shiite-dominated government, the Kurdish came out of the stranglehold of the Iraqi government, formed Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and wrested all powers from Baghdad in terms of digging, supplying and selling.
~Can we envisage similar revolutionary changes in Balochistan?~
A local activist, Kazim Baloch stated the China project has not made any difference to the area, the characteristics of which remain similar to the medieval era.
‘Mud houses, muddy roads, lack of potable water, abject poverty, deprivation, underdevelopment and extreme backwardness can be seen everywhere in the area, Kazim Baloch added.
False promises by Pakistan Government – cheated the Balochis
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Government has claimed that nearly 2000 jobs were created for the Balochis, but the ground report is completely different and pitiable. The jobs generated as claimed by the Pak government are those of menial and casual labours. Despite mining Gold and Copper for 2 decades, the Government of Pakistan has never bothered to construct metalled roads, the only proper roads are those connecting various sites of Chinese company’s sites.
The fake and hollow promises from the Pakistan Government and China have led to acute frustration amongst the locals and now it is fuelling violent protests. Various separatist groups have now come together, waging a war against the Pakistani Government for an independent Balochistan Government.
~Will there be a citizen’s welfare government ever in Balochistan – within or without the realm of Pakistan?~
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