Unemployment in Balochistan

By: Sana Samad

THE Pakistan Bureau of Statistics estimates that the unemployment rate in Balochistan is 4pc. The main reason for unemployment is lack of awareness, poverty and poor education system. According to a report, each year nearly 25,000 people graduate from Balochistan. Unfortunately, hardly around 2,000 of them can secure jobs.

Government jobs are the only source of employment in the province. The government jobs were easy to get in the past because of the smaller population. But the increase in population is making matters worse.

State jobs are no solution, and only jobs in the private sector can decrease unemployment. However, there are almost no private jobs in the province.

There are some industries but people are mostly hired from other provinces. In the past, three textile mills were operating in Lasbela, Harnai and Quetta which provided 20,000 jobs. Those textile mills have been closed. This has increased unemployment.

The federal government has failed to create job opportunities in Balochistan. Whenever it is asked to improve the economic condition of the province, the answer these days is CPEC.

The proposed economic corridor will pass through a portion of the province and cannot bring changes in the lives of the people of the province. No one can guarantee that the people of Balochistan will get jobs after the completion of this corridor.

In the past, the people of Balochistan did not receive their due share in mega projects like Gwadar port, Saindak project and the Reko Diq. The development funds for Balochistan should be used for agriculture, irrigation, fisheries, mining, forestry and livestock because the majority of the population is depended on these sectors to survive.

Published in The Balochistan Point on February 10, 2019