THE main reason for the trust deficit that exists between the Baloch people and the powerful establishment in Islamabad is that the richest region in terms of natural resources has the highest rate of poverty, which is a matter of grave concern.
It pains me to mention that the share of Balochistan from the Saindak project is hardly two per cent. It is really saddening for the neglec ted Baloch who are tired of tolerating the injustices of successive governments.

Balochistan has the largest reserves of copper and gold in the world. Unfortunately the people living in the area where gold and copper are found are struggling for a piece of bread. The province is blessed with 19 billion barrels of off-shore oil too, whose revenue can bolster the weak economy.

Moreover, the standard of education in the region is poor as most students don’t even know how to write a proper application. Cheating is allowed during board exams, which is the sign of creating a gloomy future for the youth of this nation. The infant mortality rate in Balochistan is 120 per thousand, which speaks of scarce attention of the government towards healthcare in the province.

The gas discovered in 1953 has travelled from Balochistan to Punjab, but Sui, which is a few kilometres away, is still deprived of its own gas. The government’s income from the gas is Rs90 billion per year, out of which Balochistan’s share is Rs8 billion. This makes the people opt for resistance.