Balochistan is the largest province in Pakistan, with a total area of over 347,190 km covering 44 percent of Pakistan. The fact that Pakistan’s mineral-rich Baluchistan lags behind in every sphere—including infrastructure, funding, energy, sports, dams, water scarcity, and many other areas—is not shocking.

Initially, the overall literacy rate according to the 2017 census is 43.58 percent. The literacy rate among rural women in Balochistan is worse, even though there are 80 percent of Pakistanis who are illiterate and that number is rising. Less than 2% of Balochistan’s rural female population is thought to be literate. The lowest female literacy rate in Pakistan is found in the Balochistan region, where girls’ literacy rates are below 25%.

The education system and infrastructure in Balochistan have been ranked lowest as compared to other provinces and federating units of Pakistan, according to District Education rankings 2017. Primary School Infrastructure and Middle School Infrastructure scores were calculated by taking into account of Electricity, Water, Toilet, Boundary Wall, and Satisfactory building ratios into account. Balochistan ranks 7th out of 8 in both Primary school infrastructure and Middle school infrastructure.

Beyond Primary Readiness Scores were calculated by taking into account of Middle school infrastructure and the Above Primary ratio. Balochistan ranked at 8th number out of 8 in this category.

According to District Education rankings 2017, Balochistan’s education system and infrastructure are the worst among Pakistan’s provinces and federating units. Electricity, water, toilet, boundary wall, and satisfactory building ratios were taken into account while calculating the infrastructure scores for primary

and middle schools. Balochistan is ranked 7th out of 8 in terms of both the infrastructure for primary schools and middle schools.

The infrastructure of middle schools and the above-primary ratio were taken into consideration while calculating the Beyond Primary Readiness Scores. Balochistan was placed eighth overall in this category.

The government has earmarked a sum of Rs20 billion for the South Balochistan evolution package in the expenditure for the fiscal year 2021-22.

According to documents, the total cost of the project is Rs601 billion comprising of 199 infrastructure projects to be accomplished in underdeveloped districts of Southern Balochistan within the next three years to improve the lifestyle of the members of the public. But that said, today 2022 could be about to finalize one could see little advance but its more difficulties.

People of Balochistan are quite talented when it comes to sports, be it cricket, hockey, volleyball and especially football. But they have never given any importance to any sports authorities.

The electricity and load shedding along with damaged roads have hardened the life of Balochistan. Some areas of Balochistan have only 2-3 hours of electricity. Despite taking sui gas from Balochistan, some local areas of Balochistan lack their own land’s gas.

Water shortage is a major problem in Balochistan. One can measure it by knowing the core of Pakistan CPEC, the project in Gawadar lacks water.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili himself said the province was increasingly facing water scarcity which was indeed worrisome.

The rich province is indeed having poor people and we ask the government, where is our part? What about our rights and where is progress in Balochistan?

The writer is a student in Delta.