United Baloch Army kill 22 passengers in Balochistan

QUETTA: Gunmen disguised as members of the Pakistani security forces killed at least 22 passengers on Friday night after forcing them off buses travelling from the western city of Quetta to Karachi on the southern coast, officials said.

The assault in the province of Balochistan occurred in the town of Mastung.

“Fifteen to 20 armed men in three pickup trucks and wearing security uniforms kidnapped around 35 passengers,” Sarfaraz Bugti, Balochistan’s home minister, towld Reuters. Bugti also alleged that India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was involved in the killings.

Mureed Baloch, a militant who identifies himself as the spokesman of United Baloch Army (UBA), which has attacked security forces in the past, claimed the bus attacks on Saturday.

In Quetta, the family members and relatives of those killed in the Mastung massacre protested outside the Governor House with victims’ bodies laid beside them. They decided to continue the protest after negotiations between them and the administration failed.

< Gulf Today >

Afghans in Balochistan

By Farman Kakar

Afghans’ presence in Balochistan has become a deeply politicised issue between the Baloch and Pashtun nationalists

In Balochistan, the presence of Afghans is a hotly debated issue. In Quetta, I interviewed Usman Kakar, PkMAP’s senator and provincial president; Ghulam Nabi Marri, BNP-M’s general secretary Quetta district and member party’s central media committee, and Abdul Khaliq Hazara, chairman HDP, on the stances of their parties on the presence of Afghans in Balochistan and their tentative repatriation by the end of December. Lack of information on the exact number and character of Afghans’ stay informs nationalistic rhetoric as much as the craving for, or the denial of, vote bank from Afghan constituencies, all under the garb of nationalism.

Speaking critically of anti-migration feelings towards Afghans, Kakar was all accommodating to their living in Balochistan. “The 320,000 Afghans populate Afghan Watan [here Pashtun populated areas in Balochistan]. Why should it concern the Baloch? If Afghans inhabit Baloch areas, it is up to Baloch how they treat them. If Afghan kadwal (migrants) want to move, by their free will, to any part of the Pashtun Watan (homeland) either this side [Pashtun populated areas of Balochistan] or that [Afghanistan] they can; but not by coercion”, Kakar jibed.

Marri was highly critical of the protracted stay of Afghan migrants in Balochistan. “Balochistan is treated as orphanage where everyone is settled with impunity. The Afghan refugees in our province are used for nefarious purposes. We want their return to Afghanistan where the situation is now better than here. Balochistan is a province of local Baloch and Pashtuns, he remarked.”

Hazara was “in favour of the return of all Afghans including Hazaras to Afghanistan provided they are proven to be refugees as per the government authentic record.”

The exact number and status of Afghans in Balochistan are sticking points. By December 2001, more than 5 million Afghans were in Pakistan. According to UNHCR’s “Volrep and border monitoring monthly update” in March 2014, since March 2002 when UNHCR’s assisted voluntary repatriation operation began, a total of 3,807,719 Afghan refugees were repatriated to Afghanistan from Pakistan by March 31, 2014. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for 50.1 per cent of returnees followed by Balochistan 35.8 per cent, Sindh 7.4 per cent, Punjab 5.9 per cent and Islamabad 0.8 per cent.
For the federal government, the need is to evolve a consensus among all political parties, especially nationalist ones, while dealing with the issue of Afghan migrants in Balochistan.

According to UNHCR and government of Pakistan’s estimate quoted in “Census of Afghans in Pakistan 2005”, a total of 5,429,057 Afghans were repatriated to Afghanistan from 1988/89 down to March 2005. Of these some 2.4 million had returned home since March 2002. Of the 3,049,268 Afghans residing in Pakistan in 2005, Pashtuns numbered 2,485,120 (81.5 per cent) individuals, followed by Baloch 52,009 (1.7 per cent) and Hazaras 39,454 (1.3 per cent). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan hosted 1878170 (61.6 per cent) and 769268 (25.2 per cent) individuals respectively. 48.1 percent of all Afghan resided in five districts in Pakistan: Peshawar (20.1 per cent); Quetta (11.1 per cent); Nowshera (7.6 per cent); Pishin; (5.1 per cent) and Karachi (4.3 per cent). The rest of 51.9 per cent lived in 120 districts and agencies/regions of Pakistan.

Of the 1.29 million (42.3 per cent) Afghans residing in camps and 1.75 million (57.7 per cent) living outside camps in Pakistan, Balochistan accounted for 231,960 individuals (18.0 per cent) of the camp population with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home to 1,040,223 (80.6 per cent) individuals. Of Afghans living outside camps, whereas Balochistan hosted 537,308 (30.5 per cent) Afghans, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accommodated 837,947 (47.6 per cent) of the rest.

Therefore, there were a total of 769268 Afghans in Balochistan as per “Census of Afghans in Pakistan 2005.” The number of Afghans must be lesser in Balochistan after ten years when according to UNHCR’s figure, 1527149 Afghans have repatriated from Pakistan since 2005 down to 2014. As of 2015, Pakistan shelters about 1.5 million registered Afghans. Estimates suggest that there are close to 1 million unregistered Afghans in the country.

After all, a definitive answer as to the exact number of Afghans in Balochistan is sketchy. Currently, a legal case, challenging the local status of several allegedly Afghan families in Zhob, being keenly pursued by an Islamabad-based lawyer— himself from Zhob — gives a glimpse into the involvement of the personnel of the officialdom in the issuance of illegal domiciles and NICs.

A 2009 combined study by Altai Consulting and UNHCR, entitled “Study on cross border population movement between Afghanistan and Pakistan” noted that “today, the majority of Afghans travelling to and from Pakistan are temporary migrants”. On an average day in September 2008, 40,013 single men crossed the border at Torkham compared to 8,930 individuals in family groups. Another 20,993 single men crossed the border at Spin Boldak compared to 2,821 individuals in family groups.

Of the 2,023 exclusively-men survey carried out at two border crossings — Torkham (1005 males) and Spin Boldak (1,018 males) — in September and November 2008, 84.1 per cent of the travelers were Pashtun, 8.1 per cent Tajik, 3.7 per cent Hazara, 2.6 per cent Uzbek, and 1.4 per cent Turkmen or from another ethnicity. 71.9 per cent of them lived in Afghanistan. The rest 28.1 per cent who lived in Pakistan, 18.0 per cent lived in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 8.6 in Balochistan.

Of province and city of destination in Pakistan, 46.9 per cent were destined towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar: 25.4 per cent) and 44.4 per cent Balochistan (Quetta: 27.2 per cent). Of the duration of stay in Pakistan, 81.3 per cent of all travelers indicated travelling between Pakistan and Afghanistan on a regular basis. The highest number, 35.9 per cent, would cross the border every three months while 32.5 per cent would do so once a year.

As far timing of migration, 54.0 per cent mentioned moving to Pakistan usually in the winter time and 50.2 per cent would return back to Afghanistan in the summer time. When asked for the reason to travelling forth and back from Pakistan, only 0.7 respondents mentioned conflict: employment (28.4 per cent), going home (20.0 per cent), visiting family and friends (20.0 per cent), medical purposes (18.8 per cent), trade (4.5 per cent), education (3.2 per cent), accompanying relatives (2.6 per cent), and others (1.8 per cent).

Nevertheless, 19.7 per cent of the interviewees declared to be permanently residing in Pakistan, with frequent travels back to Afghanistan. Lonely travelers, 75.3 per cent of Afghans travelled without their family with majority (52.3) citing their brief stays. Mainly unregulated journey, 81.2 per cent of respondents travelled without any travel papers: 3.7 per cent owned passport, a Pakistani ID (3.3 per cent), an Afghan ID (5.1 per cent), or variety of immigration cards (6.6 per cent). Of the 82.0 per cent of respondents who had previously resided or worked in Pakistan, 73.4 per cent of them were living in Pakistan without any legal status.


Afghans’ presence in Balochistan is a deeply politicised issue between the Baloch and Pashtun nationalists. Though a latest census of Afghans is needed desperately, it will not resolve nationalists’ squabbling there. For the federal government, the need is to evolve a consensus among all political parties, especially nationalist ones, while dealing with the issue of Afghan migrants in Balochistan.

< The News >

Balochistan to get first economic zone under CPEC: Ahsan

ISLAMABAD  - Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), industrial collaboration will be enhanced and special economic zones will be set up in all parts of the country with Balochistan to get the first economic zone.

Addressing a press briefing here on Sunday, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said establishment of economic zone in Balochistan will create jobs and bring prosperity in the province.

He said Balochistan will get maximum benefit out of the CPEC project.

He said the CPEC was not just a road but it was an umbrella under which different projects would be started. Under the bilateral energy cooperation, projects worth 37 billion dollars will be started.
These projects will yield 16,400 MW of electricity.

The minister said that out of 16,400 MW around 10,400 MW power projects had been selected as early harvest projects which would be completed by 2018.

He said Pak-China friendship fell among those consensual points that united the whole nation and whichever government remained in power in Pakistan, no one ever differed from the fact that this was the strong pillar of country's foreign policy.

The minister said that Chinese president was visiting Pakistan after 9 years. He attached good hopes with the visit of Chinese president and said that China and Pakistan were moving forward and going to enter in historic economic partnership.

Ahsan said governments of all times in Pakistan kept good relations with China but unfortunately did not focus on economic coordination.
He said the present government had taken important steps in that direction and with the help of China, Pakistan would become Asian tiger within few years.

The minister said that during the visit of Chinese president MoUs worth 45 billion dollars will be signed in the sectors of energy, basic infrastructures, industrial collaborations and other sectors under CPEC.

Ahsan said Kachi Canal project in Balochistan would be completed in the current year which would irrigate around 100,000 acres of land in the province.

He said under economic coordination, China would also relocate some of its industries from China to Pakistan that will create thousands of jobs and would also contribute in GDP of the country.

< The Nation >

BLF killed 20 construction workers in Turbat

QUETTA (AFP) - Gunmen have killed 20 construction workers in Pakistan s restive southwestern province of Balochistan, shooting them at point blank range after identifying they were not local, officials said Saturday.

Balochistan is plagued by violence, with separatists seeking greater control over the province s rich oil, gas and mineral resources, and gunmen have previously targeted outsiders seen as settlers.

The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility for the incident.

"Gunmen stormed the camp of labourers in Gokh Don area of Baluchistan late Friday night and killed 20 labourers," senior police official Tariq Khilji told AFP. He said those killed were all from outside the province -- 16 of them from Punjab and four from Sindh province. The incident, which occurred around 1,050 kilometres (650 miles) southwest of Quetta, was confirmed by Akbar Hussain Durrani, a senior administration official in the province.

"The labourers were working on construction of a small local bridge," he said. Hussain said some of the labourers reported being woken from their sleep by the sound of gunshots and screams.

"They had lined them up and shot them at point blank range after identifying their identity," he said.

Goran Baloch, a spokesman for BLF said the group would carry out more attacks.

< Duniya News >

In Pictures: Baloch Culture Day in Dera Ghazi khan

Baloch Culture Day (2-Marach)2015 in Dera Ghazi khan City, Balochistan

Iran to supply 2,000 MW power to Balochistan

Iran has agreed to supply 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Balochistan out of which 1,000 MW electricity will be utilised in the Gwadar project while the remaining 1,000 MW will be supplied to the rest of the province.

This was stated by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik during a joint press conference with Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province Governor Aqai Ali Osat Hashmi on Monday.

The CM said that he has invited Iranian entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan’s fisheries, industry, and mining sectors. He also expressed hope that the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project will be implemented soon.

Speaking about the prevention of border incidents, Dr Malik said that border committees of the two countries will meet on January 27 and 28 to discuss necessary measures.

On the other hand, the Iranian governor said that Pakistan accords much importance to its relations with Pakistan, adding that some mischievous elements want to create disturbance on the border to harm Pakistan-Iran relations.

< Pakistan Today >

In the shadow of Balochistan, the Jhal Magsi rally comes alive

JHAL MAGSI: Within the ‘drivers’ paradise’ lies a land full of curious faces and twinkling eyes, faces that have been consumed by the vast emptiness of the space around them; yet they smile — men, children and youngsters alike — with guns slung around most shoulders, a normalcy for the people of Jhal Magsi, the people of Balochistan.

Travelling to the province for the first time, driving by sparse greenery that burst into fields of crops at random intervals, the most dominant aspect was the brown, lonely landscape. Truck stops broke the monotony every now and then, with cats and dogs aimlessly crawling around the scattered tables and parked trucks, whose drivers take a tea break.

The 10th Jhal Magsi rally was the perfect opportunity to not only witness how far motorsports in Pakistan has come, but was also a chance to experience the vast differences within the same homeland; the bumps – literal and figurative – that came one after the other as the hours ticked by on the long journey there.

The desert spoke as the winds blew, beckoning for help, asking for mercy. But amidst that stood local men and children at different parts of the rally track, wrapped in colourful shawls with sand-streaked hair, chewing on sugar cane straight from the crop, waiting in anticipation for the race to start.

“This rally is what gave Jhal Magsi its identity,” said one of the organisers. “There is a lack of entertainment for the people around here so for them, this is a big day.”

The locals nodded in agreement, once again smiling away. In a place which has little to offer, this was their time, their moment. It was clear how much they had been waiting to feel the thrill as the cars sped by.

“Meri speed check kero [check out my speed],” screamed one of the locals excitedly as he tried to race his bike over the bumpy, stone-covered terrain prior to the race.

However, the waiting faces were tested some more. The fog had the final say, covering the horizon menacingly, delaying the rally by a couple of hours and cutting the 200km race short to 119km.
There was confusion and haste, and a change of plans. People shuffled around; the drivers had a different starting point now but everyone at least knew who was going to set out, in full force, hoping to take advantage of a first-place start: Ronnie Patel. Just the day before, the qualifiers had determined the line-up.

‘Ronnie nikal gaya, Ronnie nikal gaya’, screamed the walkie-talkie and cell phone exchanges as soon as the race began. Everyone had picked their spot where they wanted to watch from, where they wanted to hear the crunching of the gravel, see the trail of dust left behind as the cars lurched forward.

“The first person to take off gets the advantage of the virgin track, undisturbed by other sets of wheels,” explained a regular participator in the race.

Here it is not always the results that matters. What matters was the track, what it represents and the hopes that lay within it.

“It’s truly a driver’s paradise,” said Patel, who, as fates spoke, was unable to finish the race due to an accident, a sad end as he seemed to be the expectant winner.

Patel has been part of the motorsports scene since 1979, predominantly in Pakistan, but he has also experienced racing in Dubai twice.

“This 220km track has every kind of conceivable terrain on earth; rocky tracks, stones, rivers, canals, hard surface, soft kind of sand, sand dunes. I think this is the only track in the world that has been graded, which is quite expensive, but it ensures that there aren’t any sudden ditches.”
How does one take up such an intense sport and commit? It’s neither easy nor cheap, but Patel had an easy answer to it.

“It has to be a part of your system right from the beginning and you have to be absolutely driven to get through the challenge,” he said. “People fear for your safety but honestly it’s not the track that will break you, it’s that one wrong decision that may ruin everything.”

As he spoke of the funds required, he indirectly made it clear that only those who could afford it had a chance. “It’s definitely an expensive sport given that we don’t have sponsors for individual drivers here in Pakistan, and if you are in the ‘A’ prepared category like me, you need to be on top of your game and spend the right way to prepare the kind of car that will get you through to the finish line first.”

While rally drivers do get most of the credit, their co-drivers can be termed as the ‘unsung heroes’.
Hozaifa Hashim, co-driver to category ‘A’ winner Zafar Magsi, explains their role. “We make notes prior to the race, mark the danger points and warn the driver, especially while going in blind [sand blast from the car before you],” said Hashim, while highlighting on the support, trust and understanding the two drivers had to have between them. “Navigating isn’t our only job though. We tend to study the car and any issues that it may have so that during the race if something goes wrong, we can attend to the problem straight away.”

While talking about this year’s race, he rued the loss of the first section to the fog, which was a true test of a driver’s skill, an interesting and challenging piece of land where the Red Bull speed trap had initially been set to record the fastest time as each car maneuvered through the tricky terrain. Unfortunately the ‘surprise spot’ where they were to be timed had to be shifted.

Despite the setbacks, many of the cars passing through the finish line were greeted with celebratory gunfire.


Not just a man’s turf

It wasn’t long ago that racing was an all-man’s club. However, change has been in the air.
Patel’s wife Tushna, who has been racing for some time, and a newcomer Maliha Elahi, participated in the women’s category, facing the hardships of the course head on.

Tired, dishevelled and barely able to speak after a mentally and physically challenging rally, Maliha talked about her experience as a whole.

“It was my first time racing here and I had my 22-year-old son Abdullah co-drive the jeep,” she said. “I wasn’t racing against anyone; I was racing against myself, hoping to beat my personal best time.
“We were welcomed and treated well and given the moral support to get through such a challenge. However, it was also difficult, being a woman, because of the kind of society we have as everyone keeps staring.

“When I was in the car I felt like either I was a caged monkey or Princess Diana,” Maliha, who took this up as a hobby, chuckled. “We are from the same county but lead such different lives, it’s kind of sad really.”

At the end…
The eerie darkness of the night blanketed itself over the mountains and the valley, over the lonesome mud huts with its lonesome people left to face another bumpy day.

It was 10 years ago when three friends came up with the idea of holding a rally here; it was 10 years ago when Jhal Magsi was given a glimmer of hope. And now with everything done and dusted, its people will wait another year to feel the place come alive again.

< Express Tribune >

PM assures increased funds for infrastructure development in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N government is focussing on developing infrastructure in all parts of Pakistan and would provide increased funds for this purpose to Balochistan.

The prime minister was talking to Balochistan Minister for Mines and Minerals Sardar Sana Ullah Zehri who called on him here on Thursday. Matters relating to development in Balochistan and party matters came under discussion. Sardar Zehri apprised the prime minister of the steps being taken by the government of Balochistan for exploitation of mineral resources in the province.

< Daily Times >

Balochistan completes third phase of LG polls

QUETTA: With the election on 612 seats reserved for labourers and peasants, the third phase of local government elections was completed in Balochistan on Wednesday in a peaceful manner amid heavy security.

Balochistan is the only province in the country which has complied with a Supreme Court order regarding local bodies elections.

Of the 1,486 seats reserved for labourers and peasants, candidates on 769 had already been elected unopposed while 105 seats are vacant because no nomination paper was filed in Awaran and parts of Turbat and Panjgur.

Tough competition was witnessed on six seats in the Quetta Metropolitan Cor­pora­tion and eight in the Quetta District Council where the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDA) comprising the PML-N, both factions of the JUI, PPP, ANP and Hazara Democratic Party were in the run.

Both panels have strong candidates for the top slots of the corporation and council.

The PML-N and PkMAP, coalition partners in the provincial government, are fighting for the post of mayor and district council chairman.

According to unofficial results, the PkMAP and APDA have won three seats each in the Quetta Metro­politan Corporation and four seats each in the District Council.

Dr Kalimullah, Jamshed Dotani and Yousaf Khan of the PkMAP and Nadir Ali, Faiz Lehri and Yahya Khan Nasar of the APDA have won the elections.

Observers believe that both Kalimullah Khan and Yahya Khan Nasar could be candidates for the post of Quetta mayor.

Provincial Election Commissioner Syed Sultan Bayizeed said that polling was held throughout the province peacefully and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

Heavy contingents of police and other security forces were deployed at 338 polling stations.

Later addressing a press conference, APDA leaders Wahid Agha, Rasheed Nasir, Aslam Rind and Raza Wakeel demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections for the offices of mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and deputy chairman of all local bodies’ institutions immediately.

< Dawn >

Govt committed to development of Balochistan: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that his government was committed to the development of Balochistan with a resolve to bring it at par with the developed areas of the country.

Talking to a group of students from Loralai District at the Prime Minister’s House, Nawaz Sharif said that over the years Balochistan was neglected, adding that the province was not only rich in natural resources but also had an equally talented youth.

He said that the nation was proud of its young generation that would help Pakistan get its rightful place in the comity of nations with honour and dignity.

The prime minister said that the government would put in all resources to ensure that the children of Balochistan get quality education. He asked the students to focus on their education and lauded their calibre.

He also listened to a number of suggestions put forth by the students in order to create a proper learning environment at the Loralai School. The prime minister announced Rs 15 million for the school and said that he would announce more funds for the students when he will visit Balochistan.

He asked the students to study hard as their parents, despite their limited resources, were spending huge amount of money on their education and grooming. He also asked the school authorities to provide scholarships to the outstanding students.

The prime minister said that the young students were the future of the country and would bring a good name to the nation, adding that the children of Balochistan were equally good as compared to others across the country and assured them that they would be provided with the best possible facilities. Nawaz Sharif directed Senator Sardar Yaqoob Nasir to submit a report to him for and address problems of the school. Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid accompanied the prime minister.

< Daily Times >

Punjab package for Balochistan

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that inter-provincial harmony will improve due to visit of students of Cadet College Qila Saifullah Balochistan. 

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of students of Cadet College Qila Saifullah Baluchistan who called on him under the leadership of Vice Principal Abdul Khaliq. He said that the people of Punjab had sentiments of love and brotherhood for their Baloch brethren. 

Shahbaz Sharif announced laptops for the teachers and students of the college. He also announced water filteration plant for the college, Rs30 lakh for the management of college, Rs40 lakh for construction of swimming pool, Rs30 lakh for setting up junior school and a bus for students of Cadet College Qila Saifullah Baluchistan.

The chief minister said that Punjab government had given Rs11 billion of its share to Balochistan in NFC Award and a total of Rs55b of its share had been given to Balochistan during five years.  He said that special quota for students of Balochistan had been allocated in educational institutions of Punjab.

Addressing the students, Shahbaz Sharif said that no nation could progress or achieve a respectable place without education. He said that education, health and law& order are linked with each other.  The Punjab government has taken revolutionary steps for the improvement of education system and empowering the youth which have yielded very encouraging and positive results, he added. 

The chief minister said that allocation of special quota for the students of Balochistan was one of the important steps taken in education sector in Punjab.  He said every child has right over education and Punjab government is providing this right to them. 

The chief minister said that youth would have to play their active role along with government. He said that our elders sacrificed lakhs of precious lives for the creation of Pakistan. He said that Pakistan was achieved so that there should be supremacy of justice, honesty and equality. 

“Unfortunately, corruption, safarish, nepotism and Bradrism have been promoted in the country. Due to four martial laws, the country is lagging far behind. The country is for all of us and we all will have to play our role for its progress,” the CM held.

He said that Punjab government had given gift of a cardiac center to Balochistan and two billion rupees had been released for its construction. The students and teachers of cadet collage paid tribute to the development vision of Shahbaz Sharif and said that Punjab had played the role of elder brother in the real sense.

< The Nation >

Words of change: Clearing the coast for the women of Balochistan

Quetta: Dressed in a colourful embroidered Balochi dress, 19-year-old Mariyam Suleman is a reflection of the deep blue sea that meets the shore of her hometown of Gwadar. Unassuming yet dynamic, the teenage social activist is making waves by creating awareness about the rights of women.

A college student and blogger, Mariyam is teaching women English in rural areas of Gwadar in order to give them an equal shot at opportunities. Doing what she does, that too in Balochistan–where proper education is a dream, takes unmatched resolve. And Mariyam’s determination, like the waters that besieges her land, is unwavering.

Mariyam started her endeavour after completing her undergraduate education from America. She recently conducted a workshop with the help of a non-profit organisation in Gwadar where over 30 college-going girls discussed women’s rights and swapped stories of influential Baloch women who changed society as they know it.

“I have not done a big thing, but I feel happy to do something for our society, specifically for the women in Balochistan who are denied access to education, not only because of cultural barriers, but also due to lack of resources,” Mairyam tells The Express Tribune.

She has also organised workshops focusing on tech camps in colleges, training of trainers, women’s day, cultural heritage and international day for girls’ rights.

“I organised a few workshops for college girls in Gwadar and have also been teaching English language along with maintaining my personal blog,” she says in a nonchalant manner that would have you think she is among many doing the same in her area. In fact, Mariyam is one of the first teenage girls to regularly write blogs about education and women issues in the province.

Elaborating on lack of opportunities, Mariyam says cultural barriers are a major issue. “They (girls) are married at a very young age. Sometimes they are forced to stay home rather than encouraged to compete with men out in the world. This is why, at times, they stop dreaming.”

Avenues for girls to pursue an education in Gwadar are extremely limited, even with the attention the coastal city has attracted in the past one decade. “Girls often bury their dreams because of lack of opportunities and cultural barriers.”

Yet, the women of Balochistan are aware of their rights. Mairyam said girls at several workshops have voiced one concern repeatedly: ‘Men should be taught about women’s rights, not women.’

Mariyam’s blogs can be viewed here.

< Express Tribune >

In Pictures: Passing out parade of Balochistan recruits

A passing out parade of Baloch recruits in Pakistan Army was held in Quetta on Tuesday.  The passing out parade ceremony began with recitation of Quran. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif attended the passing out parade as the Chief Guest. Chief Minister of Balocistan Abdul Malik Baloch was also present on this occasion. The vigilant contingent of Pakistan Army soldiers carried out a march past at the parade ceremony. At the event, as many as 580 Pakistan Army soldiers took an oath. 

Crime rate in Balochistan down by 22 per cent: CM

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Balochistan Chief Minister addressing a press conference

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has claimed that crime graph in the province has dropped by 22 per cent during the current year.

He was speaking during a session of the Balochistan Assembly held on Friday with Speaker Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali in the chair.

Concluding the debate on law and order, Malik Baloch urged legislators not to hurl corruption allegations on him, adding that if any member had any proof against him he should present it before the public.

He said security situation in the province could not be improved overnight.

The house witnessed pandemonium when treasury and opposition members traded hot words on the Reko Diq gold-cum-copper project.

During his speech, the chief minister referred to his latest news conference at which he had presented details about the Reko Diq project and categorically announced that he would not compromise on natural resources of Balochistan.

On the law and order issue, he said in 2013 a total of 234 incidents of crime occurred, 357 people were killed. And in 2014, he added, 151 incidents of crime had occurred and 156 people were killed. Kidnapping and targeted killings have decreased by 30pc. He said there was reduction also in the cases of dumping of mutilated bodies.

The chief minister said that law-enforcement agencies had traced the people involved in burning of Ziarat Residency, killing of police officer Aamir Mohammad, bomb blasts on Alamdar Road, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University and Taftan town.

He said 600 people had been recruited in law-enforcement agencies. Bullet-proof vehicles had been provided to deputy superintendents of police and hundreds of police personnel were being trained by the army, he added.

< Dawn >

Rs1 billion for cameras, scanner gates in Quetta

Balochistan government has allocated one billion rupees for the installation of 2,500 surveillance cameras and six security gates in the Quetta Valley for improving the law and order.

The Information Technology Department of Balochistan has finalised the proposals for installing security cameras at selected areas and six scanner gates at entry and exist points of Quetta.

“We believe in using modern technology for crime control and security,” Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch told The Express Tribune. “This will help to control the law and order situation in Quetta which has witnessed series of tragic incidents in recent months,” he added.

Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said government has hired NESPAK as consultant, which would soon invite international bids for this project. “At least Rs600 million have been allocated for each security camera and gate,” he said.

Earlier talking to the media regarding the security situation the chief minister said that the Balochistan government has already announced motorcycle mounted police force for Quetta.

The CM said that the provincial government has revised its security plan for Quetta after these incidents. “We would be the first one using such modern technology in Quetta and spending a huge amount,” he said.
Drought relief

The Balochistan government has allocated one billion rupees for the drought hit areas of the province, while two committees have been constituted to monitor the relief work, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Wednesday.

One committee will have public representatives, including Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Advisor to CM on Livestock Ubaidullah Babat, while the other will have deputy commissioners of the drought hit districts, he said. “There have been no rains in Zhob, Musa Khail, Kohlu, Barkhan and Dera Bugti which have affected the agriculture and livestock of these districts. We want to provide relief to people of these calamity hit areas,” he said speaking at a briefing by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that Balochistan was not receiving enough rains due to global warming and climate change.

The committees would visit all the drought hit areas and make an assessment before the start of relief work. “There had been large scale corruption in Balochistan in the name of drought and natural disaster. We want a transparent process of distribution of relief that is why two separate committees were formed,” he said.

< Express Tribune >

Balochistan's stolen antiques recovered from Rome

QUETTA: Italian police has recovered from Rome antiques stolen from Balochistan's Mehrgarh area, said a statement issued by the provincial government.

Mehrgarh, which is located in Bolan district, has a history of civilisation that goes back to thousands of years.

The Balochistan government said late on Tuesday that the Italian police had on Monday recovered the antiques from Rome, which were stolen from Mehrgarh.

The government did not give details about any arrests in relation to the theft or the value of the antiques. The recovered antiques are said to be thousands of years old and are considered highly valuable in the international market, the statement said.

Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch expressed pleasure over the recovery of the antiques and directed Secretary Archives to contact the Pakistani embassy in Rome for an immediate return of the antiques.

Prominent local historian Noor Khan Mohammad Hassani told Dawn that there was no mechanism in place to guard antiques in Balochistan.

"People have stolen artifacts and material that represents our history, our identity," Hassani said, adding that certain people were stealing antiquities from Balochistan to sell them in the international market.

Mehrgarh is regarded as among the oldest civilisations across the globe, with historians saying it could be at least eight thousand years old.

< Dawn >

Balochistan govt regularises services of lady health workers

QUETTA: The Balochis­tan government has regularised the services of all lady health supervisors, lady hea­lth workers, account supervisors and drivers who have been working on an ad hoc basis in the National Prog­ramme for Family Planning and Primary Heath Care in 30 districts of the province.

According to a notification issued by the health department, the services of these employees have been made permanent since July 1, 2012.

The decision has been made in accordance with orders of the Supreme Court.

The districts where services of these employees have been regularised are Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Barkhan, Loralai, Musa Khail, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Sibi, Harnai, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Kechhi, Jhal Magsi, Zhob, Sherani, Washuk and Ziarat.

< Dawn >

Balochistan CM hails European scholarship programme

Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that the government is making efforts to educate maximum number of youth, as it will help eradicate backwardness.

He stated this in a meeting with European Union Education Foundation's (EUEF) Director Scholarships programme Yvonne Hunter at the Balochistan House here on Sunday.

The EUEF will award scholarships to 10,000 Pakistani students annually for getting education in the European countries.

Under this initiative, the students will not only get admissions but also receive scholarships.
The Chief Minister, appreciating the services of the EUEF in the field of education, said the Balochistan government will extend all out cooperation in this regard.

He said that efforts will be made that maximum number of youth from Balochistan benefit from this scholarship programme.

Yvonne Hunter said that the mission of the EUEF is to promote education in the developing countries.
Later, EUEF representative in Pakistan, Zafar Bukhari stressed the need for reforms in education sector.
Answering a question, he said that agreements will be made with other provinces as well as Gilgit-Baltistan for awarding scholarships.

He said the forms for applying for scholarships will be available from local bank branches from next month, adding that the implementation of the programme will be started from January 2015.
Balochistan government's spokesman Jan Buledi was also present in the meeting.

< Business Recorder >

Balochistan govt announces Rs 1 billion for drought-hit areas

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Wednesday said that the provincial government has allocated one billion rupees for the drought-hit areas of Balochistan.

Addressing a press conference at the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) office, the chief minister said that a committee under the leadership of Balochistan Minister for Disaster and Home Sarfraz Bugti and Adviser to Chief Minister on Livestock Ubaidullah Babad has been constituted to address the problems of the people of drought-hit areas.

“There have been no rains in Zhob, Musa Khail, Kohlu, Barkhan and Dera Bugti which had drastically affected the agriculture and livestock of these districts. Agriculture and livestock are two main sources of income for the people of these areas,” he added.

Responding to a question, Baloch said that the government does not have enough resources to construct dams or water reservoirs in Balochistan. “At least 200 PC-1s have been prepared for the construction of medium-sized dams to end the water crisis but we do not have enough resources to allocate such a huge amount,” he added.

He said that the water shortage is severe from Zhob to Khuzdar, where ground level water has been rapidly declining. “People have to dig over 1,000 feet deep now,” he said. The chief minister also said that the local administration would launch a campaign against illegal tube well connections in Quetta.

< Daily Times >

Balochistan to give land for Sibi University and HEC Centre

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has issued directions for allotment of land in the cities of Sibi and Quetta for the establishment of Sibi University and HEC Regional Centre in Quetta, respectively.

The decision comes after a request from Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed for allocation of land as the commission has been instrumental in promoting higher education for youths in less-developed areas. In order to achieve this target, the HEC upgraded the existing higher education institutions in its first phase and also recommended establishment of new institutions in different parts of the country on a need basis.

To this effect, a detailed feasibility study was carried out in 2007 to assess the potential of new universities and sub-campuses of existing universities in each district of Balochistan. Towns of Turbat, Loralai and Sibi were found suitable for the establishment of new universities. Accordingly, the University of Turbat and University of Loralai have been established and are in development phase while the construction of University of Sibi has been proposed during the current year. Now that the land will be allotted, development work will be able to begin. Likewise, the land allotment for HEC Regional Centre will also enable construction work to start.

< Daily Times >