Balochistan Development

 

Message from Senior Minister Planning & Development Department (P&DD), Government of Balochistan The Balochistan Comprehensive Development and Growth Strategy (BCDGS) 2021-2026 is the planning document of the Government of Balochistan which provides a roadmap towards a balanced development, inclusive growth, and improved living standards in the province. The document provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges the province is confronted with and offers a comprehensive roadmap and specific strategic direction to the Government of Balochistan towards addressing these challenges. This meets the requirements necessary for the achievement of sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in the province. One very important feature of the document is that it has been put together while keeping in view the opportunities and challenges coming from the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Balochistan’s position is central to both CPEC and SDGs in the sense that both of them have immense potentials to guide Balochistan towards sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. Balochistan is home to both challenges and opportunities. Balochistan’s exceedingly scattered population and its lowermost population density make service delivery administratively challenging and development very much costly affair. It is undoubtedly a major factor behind Balochistan’s backwardness and its lagging behind rest of the provinces in terms of key socioeconomic indicators. Therefore, good governance and access to, and quality of basic services remain the most important barriers to rapid socioeconomic development of the province. As recommended by the document, one tangible answer to the problems lies in improving regional connectivity, exploiting mineral resources, developing strong industrial base, managing natural resources, developing coastal and tourism potential, and investing in human capital by expending social safety nets and improving access to, and quality of service delivery. Keeping in view the province’s geographical location and multiple challenges, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth cannot take place without achieving rapid and sustainable gross provincial product (GPP) growth. Unfortunately, Balochistan has for long been lagging behind from among rest of the provinces in terms of GPP. But what is promising is that this document does not only include an in-depth analysis of the factors which keep Balochistan behind, but it also comes up with strategies to improve GPP growth in the province. Moreover, the document has also determined a number of potential economic growth sectors including industry, mining, energy, power, fisheries, and tourism which can put the province on the trajectory of inclusive and sustainable growth and development. The government is determined to develop the sectors by mobilising massive investments through both public and private financing. In this regard, public-private-partnerships (PPPs) is the key to develop new sectors of the economy and to transform the traditional ones. To attain the objective of PPPs, the Government of Balochistan has already set up a full-fledged PPP Unit in the province to promote PPPs for achieving the socioeconomic development targets of the province. I would like to state that BCDGS 2021-2026 should not only be celebrated as a strategic document, but it should also propel serious structural and policy reforms which will facilitate the province to achieve the goals of balanced development, inclusive growth, improved image, and living standards in the province. I would like to appreciate the entire team who have helped formulate this very important document for the government. I would like to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), especially its SDG Unit, for supporting this effort and for remaining engaged with us throughout its formulation. Our appreciation is also for the provincial secretaries and their teams, commissioners, deputy commissioners, academia, civil society organisations and resource persons from the consulting firm for putting together this important planning document which is in line with the aspirations of the people of the province. The Additional Chief Secretary Development, Hafiz Abdul Basit and the Chief of Section, Federal Projects/SDGs, Mr. Arif Hussain Shah need a special mention for their thorough technical guidance and supervision. Mr. Zahoor Ahmed Buled