Pakistan’s Balochistan remains “neglected and underdeveloped” despite its wealth of mineral resources, according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He highlighted that the region has endured decades of “systematic economic and political exploitation.” Sarma shared his insights via his official X account, describing Balochistan as a landscape rich in resources yet reflecting a “legacy of neglect.”
Sarma emphasized that Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, ironically stands as the most neglected, a situation that mirrors its long history of economic and political mismanagement. He noted that the province contains over 80% of Pakistan’s mineral wealth, including the significant Reko Diq copper-gold deposit, which is among the world’s largest untapped reserves. This deposit is estimated to hold approximately 5.9 billion tonnes of ore, featuring 41.5 million ounces of gold and 35 million tonnes of copper.
The chief minister pointed out that the Sui gas field, discovered in 1952, was once a major supplier of natural gas for Pakistan, providing over 56% at its peak. Yet, as of 2020, Balochistan consumes less than 6% of the gas it produces, with many households still depending on firewood for cooking.
Sarma further remarked on the potential of the Gwadar port and the extensive 770-kilometre Makran coastline under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, he noted that local communities remain largely excluded from these benefits, lacking basic access to clean drinking water, electricity, and essential infrastructure.
According to Sarma, Balochistan contributes less than 4% to Pakistan’s industrial output, and its representation in federal public sector employment is disproportionately low. He expressed concern that with poverty rates surpassing 40%, the people of Balochistan live amidst wealth that has been transformed into neglect and deprivation. This situation, he claimed, is not a consequence of natural scarcity but a result of state neglect and political extraction, compounded by decades of unfulfilled promises.
Following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Sarma has frequently commented on various issues in Pakistan, including the ongoing armed conflict in Balochistan.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/balochistan-neglected-and-underdeveloped-himanta-biswa-sarma-1216386-2025-05-20?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-05-20 15:15:00
