Over the years, the state has repeatedly sought to embrace the people of Balochistan as its own—through roads, hospitals, schools, universities, employment schemes, development packages, and rehabilitation policies.
For decades, the relationship between the state and the Baloch people has often been framed through a narrow security lens. However, a broader examination of state policy and investment patterns in Balochistan reveals a sustained effort focused on inclusion, development, and long-term integration rather than confrontation or collective punishment.
Over the years, the state has repeatedly sought to embrace the Baloch people as its own—through roads, hospitals, schools, universities, employment schemes, development packages, and rehabilitation policies. Infrastructure projects connecting remote districts, education initiatives, and job creation programmes have remained central to this approach, reflecting an emphasis on opportunity rather than isolation.
At the same time, it is an unfortunate and persistent reality that terrorist groups have consistently targeted these very efforts. Teachers, labourers, engineers, health workers, students, schools, development sites, and public infrastructure have been attacked—not because these initiatives harm Balochistan, but because they represent stability, opportunity, and integration.
This distinction matters.
The state is not in conflict with the Baloch people. It is confronting violent actors who exploit ethnic identity, sabotage development, and operate in ways that serve instability and external agendas. These groups view development as a threat: roads connect communities, education expands choices, healthcare improves resilience, and jobs weaken recruitment narratives built on deprivation and grievance.
Across Balochistan, militant activity has frequently focused on disrupting public projects and social services. Schools have been attacked, infrastructure sabotaged, and development sites targeted precisely because they symbolise state-citizen engagement and socio-economic progress.
By attacking development, violent actors attempt to keep communities trapped in fear and underdevelopment, ensuring continued instability. This strategy serves both ideological extremism and external interests that benefit from prolonged disorder in the region.
Policies of Restraint and Reintegration
Despite sustained violence, the state has not pursued collective punishment. Instead, policies of restraint and reconciliation have remained in place, including:
-
General amnesty and surrender opportunities
-
Rehabilitation and reintegration programmes
-
Education and vocational pathways for former militants
-
Economic and development packages for affected regions
These measures reflect a long-term vision focused on stabilisation through inclusion rather than retaliation. The Baloch population has continued to be treated as equal citizens whose grievances are to be addressed through political engagement, economic opportunity, and social investment.
What the State is doing for the people of Balochistan:
Balochistan Special Development Initiative (BSDI)
Under the Balochistan Special Development Initiative, Rs5 billion was allocated for 137 development projects across districts including Kech, Khuzdar, Washuk, Chagai, Panjgur, and Kalat.
Of these, 13 projects have been completed, including:
-
Solar power installations for rural health centres and madrasas
-
Street lighting in Washuk
-
Construction of funeral grounds in Kalat and Khuzdar
In total, 969 BSDI projects were launched across 35 districts, covering roads, water supply, energy, health, and education infrastructure aimed at improving connectivity and living conditions in remote areas.
Strategic Projects and Employment
Major development initiatives have also generated employment and economic activity for local communities:
-
New Gwadar International Airport, creating thousands of jobs for local residents
-
Saindak Copper-Gold Project, employing over 2,000 workers, with 87 percent from Balochistan, and supporting approximately $1.1 billion worth of local procurement, benefiting regional trade, transport, and logistics
Healthcare and water security initiatives include:
-
$100 million Pak-China Friendship Hospital in Gwadar
-
Desalination plants to address chronic water scarcity
Education and Human Capital Development
Education has remained a central pillar of state engagement in Balochistan:
-
Indigenous scholarships for Baloch students, including Benazir Scholarships at Oxford University
-
HEC international scholarships dedicated to students from Balochistan
-
International training programmes for engineers from less-developed districts
-
Around 12 cadet colleges operating under provincial administration, bringing high-quality education directly to underserved communities
For students with limited access to schooling due to poverty or geography, the state has sought to bring educational institutions closer to their homes rather than expecting communities to relocate.
A crucial distinction must be recognised. The state is not engaged in conflict with the Baloch people. It is confronting violent elements who misuse ethnic identity as a shield for terrorism while targeting development, education, and public welfare.
Balochistan’s future will not be secured through fear, destruction, or perpetual conflict. It will be shaped by roads that connect, schools that educate, hospitals that heal, and jobs that dignify.
The state has demonstrated restraint and openness, investing in people rather than punishing communities. The responsibility now also extends to society—to reject violence, protect development, and ensure that the future of Balochistan is not held hostage by those who profit from instability.
