Billions have been given to the the legislators in Balochistan during the past four and a half years under democracy as additional revenue but it has not helped reduce miseries of masses.
Balochistan has always held the centre responsible for its underdevelopment but now the chieftains cannot absolve themselves of responsibility as Balochistan has received unprecedented funds under the seventh NFC award and more autonomy after the 18th Amendment.
Budgetary outlay of the province has been doubled, divisible pool share has increased by 4 percent, it is getting Rs 12 billion annually as gas development surcharge while revenue receipts are up by 95 percent.
Increased revenue has only helped provincial government buy a new aircraft and escalate discretionary funds of lawmakers to Rs 300 million while rural poor still live in the middle ages.
The tribal chiefs who are mostly the legislators whether at national or provincial level have always used all the funds on personal welfare while blaming centre, Army, FC and ISI for their problems.
Baloch sardars are in habit of reaping benefits through violence since decades; the problem existed even before Ayub Khan’s era but it complicated when Akbar Bugti fired on Musharraf’s aircraft and was subsequently killed. What is the State suppose to do if the head of the State is attacked.
Now terrorists are getting help from 26 countries including India to destabilize Pakistan; they are also fighting security forces and attacking ISI.
Balochistan has only eight million people out of which 40 percent are Pashtoons while 20 percent Brahvis who don’t support insurgents. Insurgency is only found in Marri and Bugti areas which have 400,000 people, merely 0.25 pc of total population.
The situation will only improve when benefit reach to the poor by efficient resource management.
Filed under: Balochistan, Corruption Tagged: | Balochistan, Corruption, Human Rights, Pakistan, Pakistani Politics
