Comparison of Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas of Baluchistan
Poverty is still a major issue in Pakistan, with an estimated 24% of the population living below the poverty line. This disparity is especially pronounced in Balochistan, the country’s largest province in terms of area but with the second highest incidence of poverty, with a startling 71% of the population being multidimensionally poor. Balochistan’s rural areas are particularly hard hit, with 85% of the population living in poverty, compared to 38% in urban areas. When comparing poverty levels across provinces, Balochistan stands out as the poorest, with 52% of the population living in poverty, while other provinces such as Punjab, KPK, and Sindh have much lower poverty levels at 19%, 32%, and 33%, respectively.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is rich in natural resources and has a substantial stretch of coastline, providing abundant livelihood prospects. Despite this, poverty remains a major concern. Balochistan’s rural areas have been entirely abandoned and left behind by federal and provincial governments which prioritize population size when distributing resources. As a result, the province ranks among the lowest in Pakistan and South Asia in terms of health, infrastructure, education, and other socioeconomic metrics. Tragically, the province has high infant and maternal death rates, as well as a low education rate, with just 40% of children and 20% of women acquiring an education.
Balochistan has the highest rate of unemployment and poverty in Pakistan. Poverty and unemployment in the province rich in natural resources and blessings have resulted in hundreds of suicides, fire-bombings, and other acts. Due to uncertainty and poverty, providers of gas, electricity, wood, bread, and other vital products are far from being available to the poor. On the one hand, the province’s population are impoverished, while the youthful generation is on the verge of disaster due to the greatest unemployment in the country. Poverty and unemployment are making life increasingly tough. Because of countless mishaps and accidents, the atmosphere is always dismal.
Many communities throughout most districts of Balochistan remain devoid of basic necessities and plagued by hardships. Furthermore, rural Pakistan is poorer than urban areas and lacks the majority of facilities. According to the World Bank, Balochistan has the highest poverty rate. Sixty-two percent of the rural population is poor. Children and women in rural Balochistan are deprived of adequate nutrition, and there are no special procedures in place to ensure their timely treatment, despite the presence of hospitals, dispensaries, and other facilities.
Many doctors, instead of performing their duties in the countryside, spend their time at private clinics, keeping the slaughterhouses open and collecting money. If people are unemployed in such a position, what should they do if they do not commit suicide? Children in Balochistan were burned to death after being sprayed with oil. Many committed suicide, and many killed others in their own communities and homes. This injustice, oppression, and despotism will endure till then.
Balochistan hasn’t been able to sustain human life at the national level, let alone at the global level. No one from a particular nation or faith brings up the issue of poverty and unemployment brought on by corruption. The misappropriation and other crushing will be shown behind a curtain. The rulers settle in human blood to gain power in this place. Even though it hasn’t occurred in Balochistan, our leaders continue to be blind, deaf, and mute. To raise the unemployment and poverty rates in Balochistan, the World Bank and the nation’s official agency are ringing the bell. Unfortunately, our leaders were not immune to political criticism and intra-party strife because they are corrupt. If it is provided to the needy, poverty can be reduced significantly.
According to a recent UN assessment, Balochistan is regarded as the world’s poorest and most neglected province. Balochistan is the heart and last breath of Pakistan since it is endowed by God with abundant natural resources like gas, oil, gold, and copper. Due to the violence and illiteracy in the province, poverty is the major issue. Unemployment and corruption are two significant factors that have contributed to the growing poverty in Balochistan. One of the most pressing issues in Balochistan is unemployment; thousands of Baloch people are jobless despite being unable to provide three times as much food for their children. The least populous province is Balochistan, yet regrettably one-third of its people are employed.
Increases in begging, robberies, suicide, and terrorism are just a few of the societal ills brought on by rising levels of poverty and unemployment in the region. On the other hand, we observe a number of graduates each year who are still without employment. The root cause of unemployment is corruption. In one recent instance of CTSP nominated instructors, the test was administered in 2019 and it is now the final test of 2020, but they still have not received their department’s directives. Numerous schools have been forced to close due to teachers. Balochistan’s education system is facing issues, such as a lack of teachers, teachers’ absences, and inadequate facilities.
According to a study, 1.8 million children in Balochistan are not enrolled in school. Of those, more than 60% drop out between the elementary and intermediate grades, and 45% do so before graduating from high school. Balochistan’s government has fallen short of its obligation to give its children a basic education. It is the responsibility of the responsible authorities to develop employment possibilities for persons who have completed their education but are still unemployed in order to eliminate poverty. Balochistan has experienced a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty.
The Pakistani government, along with a number of NGOs, has implemented a number of programs to combat poverty, including the Benazir Income Support Program, which offers financial aid to low-income families, the Balochistan Rural Support Program, which aims to improve the socioeconomic standing of those living in rural Balochistan by providing financial and technical assistance, and programs for vocational training, but no real progress could be seen. It has been challenging persuading stakeholders that the bottom-up strategy is the best choice for the specific local situation. Local government and civil society must learn to collaborate in order to accomplish local development. The most difficult obstacle is the province of Balochistan’s underrepresentation in comparison to other provinces. Only by increasing and upgrading capability and resources while considering fair representation for Balochistan; will we be able to begin working towards poverty alleviation in the province.
The writer is currently studying at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).