ISLAMABAD: Economic experts have rejected the portrayal of Balochistan as a symbol of deprivation and backwardness, calling it a misleading and unrealistic campaign aimed at spreading despair among the people.
According to them, the narrative of unrest, conflict, and terrorism in the province serves only to please hostile forces.
Those behind this agenda exploit the issue of missing persons and exaggerate underdevelopment to mislead the public for their malicious goals.
Professor Shahid Saleem, a renowned economist in Multan says that the BYC leaders often compare Balochistan’s infrastructure with other provinces, highlighting differences in roads, healthcare, education, and utility services to fuel discontent.
They even falsely claim that the province’s natural resources are being unfairly utilized by Punjab and Islamabad. In some cases, women are used in this propaganda to soften the image and manipulate public emotions.
In reality, this depiction of deprivation is nothing more than a sinister plot. Over the past decade, a significant share of national resources has been redirected towards Balochistan.
Major projects like CPEC were initiated from the province, and developments such as Gwadar Port and new highways aim to create job opportunities and ease for locals.
High-quality schools, colleges, and universities are being established, with benefits already reaching the population.
Uneven development, experts argue, exists in over 80% of countries worldwide—even in nations like the USA and UK. Within Pakistan, central and northern Punjab are more developed than the southern regions;
Sindh has major growth in cities like Karachi and Hyderabad, while the rest lags behind. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s condition isn’t drastically different from Balochistan either.
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When viewed in a broader perspective, progress may be gradual but is undeniable. Comparing present-day conditions to the 1980s or ’90s clearly shows improvement. Therefore, instead of falling for negative narratives, people should remain hopeful and optimistic.
