Ahmed Khan Malik

Balochistan has enormous potential for blue economy and the new government is seriously working on a plan to tap it to strengthen the provincial economy and empower its people through provision of ample opportunities of livelihood. “We are working on a plan to tap this potential to uplift the provincial economy in general and of the coastal areas in particular,” said Shahmir Zehri, Director of the Coastal Development Board, in an interview with WealthPK.

He said the new provincial government is keen to tap the abundant potential of blue economy. Halfhearted efforts were made in the past to develop the blue economy but the incumbent government is serious about this important sector of the economy. The potential of blue economy is enormous but certain issues need to be addressed before the launch of the project, he said. A document has been prepared, which notes that there is a need for provision of infrastructure like roads, railway, airport, ports and harbours, and basic facilities like water, sanitation and communication. Shahmir said without uninterrupted supply of fresh water, no project could be started on the coast.

In this regard, desalination plants could be built at the sites including maritime tourist resorts and beaches like Kund Malir, Hingol National Park, and rest areas on the Makran Coastal Highway. There’s a need for well-planned tourist bays, boarding and lodging facilities, and recreational and sports arenas. Properly designed industrial area and special economic zones related to the blue economy with special quotas of employment for the local people of Balochistan should be established, according to the document. It states that the only way forward is through synchronized efforts among the relevant departments and ministries; otherwise, the absence of infrastructure and essential amenities remains a major obstacle in nurturing the blue economy.

The document describes Balochistan as Pakistan’s soft underbelly that requires protection through the integration of its populace and the allocation of national funds to enhance their conditions.  Slow pace of development, inefficacy of government policies, insufficient strategic planning, and lack of understanding about particular tribal systems have further aggravated the situation. As a matter of fact, the only viable solution is investing in the province through the blue economy and utilizing the maritime economic base. The document further says economic empowerment will encourage people to break the shackles of traditional societal norms and poverty. Continuity of such an approach is the only way to lessen the grievances of the Baloch people.

Credit: INP-WealthPk