ISLAMABAD: Ethnicity does not get politicised in a vacuum but through elites pursuing political and economic goals at the expense of the wider population, speakers at a dialogue said.
The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) held a dialogue on Balochistan participated by luminaries from the province, politicians, civil servants and people from the academia.
The roundtable resolved that deprivation creates a conducive environment for recruiting militants and Pakistan’s development paradigm should be organic and horizontal.
It was noted that Pakistan’s approach to development in Balochistan has so far been skewed and flawed with many well-read youngsters in Balochistan unhappy due to enforced disappearances which should be treated as a symptom not a cause.
The participants pondered over the critical issues faced by the desolate province and outlined the fault lines in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as public, private partnership (PPP) in the province.
The pressing issue of ‘enforced disappearances’ also came under the hammer, which is widely considered by the locals as an extrajudicial act against the Baloch population.
The solution lies in confidence building measures with Baloch dissidents and the media must play a constructive role in stopping and denouncing the modus operandi employed by Baloch militants such as suicide bombings, the participants said.
The roundtable members observed that political engagement as was the case during Chief Minister Dr Maalik Baloch’s era is important to address trust deficits.
The speakers urged that a National Incubation Centre should be promoted for vocational training in the province.
IPRI President Ambassador Dr Raza Muhammad (Retd) said that it is important to be empathetic while addressing the Balochistan question, and future discussions should focus on critical areas such as health and education.
The delegates in the event comprised of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Member National Assembly Zobaida Jalal, BAP’s Senator Anwar ul Haq Kakar, Provincial Commission on Status of Women (PCSW) Balochistan Chairperson Fauzia Shaheen, Quetta’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Syed Fida Hassan Shah and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University Vice Chancellor Dr Sajida Naureen.
The participants also included Balochistan Council for Peace and Policy President Dr Mir Sadaat Baloch, Government of Balochistan CPEC/Public-Private Partnership Unit’s Rafiullah Kakar, Member National Commission on Status of Women from Balochistan Fatima Nangyal Khan, Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) Quetta Research Director Maria Malik and Balochistan government’s ex-spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani.
Journalist Gohram Aslam Baloch, GTV Balochistan Bureau Chief Bushra Sadiqui, and Provincial Representative/Head of Office, UNDP Sub-Office Balochistan Zulfiqar Durrani were also among the participants.
IPRI President Ambassador Dr Raza Muhammad (Retd), IPRI Director Research Brigadier Raashid Wali Janjua (Retd) and Ambassador Asif Durrani (Retd) were other focal persons from IPRI.