CSS Current Affairs | Economic Activities of People Living in Balochistan
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Amna Zafar under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Economic activities of people living in Balochistan
- ✓ Livestock breeding
- Case in point: According to the Balochistan Conservation Strategy, livestock breeding in Balochistan contributes to nearly 47 per cent of Baluchistan’s GDP.
- ✓ Agriculture
- Case in point: According to the Agriculture Statistics of Balochistan 2021-22 report, the total production of crops was 494,910 tonnes in the Khuzdar district only.
- ✓ Fishing
- Case in point: According to the Asian Development Bank’s Balochistan Economic Report, fishing in Balochistan has been contributing 4% to the GDP of Pakistan
- ✓ Mining
- Case in point: According to international Labor Organization, it is estimated that nearly one hundred thousand coal miners for underground mining and nearly ninety thousand miners employed on the ground for loading and transportation purpose.
- ✓ Handcrafts
- Case in point: According to Small and Medium Development Authority (SMEDA) DATA, cottage industry contributes to 5% to total GDP of Balochistan.
- ✓ Smuggling of goods
- Case in point: According to Federal Board of Revenue, smuggled goods and vehicle of worth Rs .519 million were seized on 3rd September 2023.
- ✓ Smuggling of Irani oil and US dollars
- Case in point: According to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority report 2023, nearly 4,000 tonnes of fuel is being smuggled into Pakistan every day.
3-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
1-Introduction
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan on the basis of land. It accounts for nearly 46.3% of the total country’s land. The population of Balochistan is estimated to be 21.7 million. Apart from its geographic importance, Balochistan has geo-economic significance for Pakistan as it has abundant reserves of natural gas, oil, minerals and coal. Similarly, people living in Balochistan depend on these natural resources for their livelihood. Agriculture and livestock production are two of the main sources of livelihood in Balochistan, other than the mining of minerals, fishing, and the cottage industry.
2-Economic activities of people living in Balochistan
- ✓ Livestock breeding
Most people in Balochistan depend on livestock breeding for their livelihood. According to the Balochistan Conservation Strategy, livestock breeding in Balochistan contributes to nearly 47 per cent of Baluchistan’s GDP. In general, backyard poultry is a common practice in the rural areas of the country. Livestock breeding provides milk and meat For human use, and wool is used to make clothing. More than 60% of households depend on livestock for their income. According to the Livestock Department of Balochistan, the total livestock population is 2,768,950 in the Khuzdar district only.
- ✓ Agriculture
Along with livestock production, agriculture contributes massively to Balochistan’s GDP. Different types of crops are yielded and exported to different areas of the country. These goods are also exported to different countries. Balochistan is said to be the Fruit Basket of Pakistan. According to the Agriculture Statistics of Balochistan 2021-22 report, the total production of crops was 494,910 tonnes in the Khuzdar district only. The crops produced in the province include cotton, sugarcane, wheat, rice, canola, mustard, sunflower and so on. Fruits produced include apples, peaches, grapes, cherry plums, dates and many others. According to an estimate, almost 60 per cent of peaches, apricots, pomegranates 70, 70 per cent of dates and 34 per cent of apples are exported from Balochistan.
- ✓ Fishing
Fishing is also one of the main economic activities for the people of Balochistan. More than 80% of the coastal population is in the fishing business. According to the Asian Development Bank’s Balochistan Economic Report, fishing in Balochistan has contributed 4% to Pakistan’s GDP. The fish is exported to different countries, including China , Hong Kong, Sri- Lanka and Korea. Fish harbour in Pasni is regulated by the provincial government, providing employment opportunities for people of that area.
- ✓ Mining
Balochistan has abundant natural reserves of natural gas, coal, and minerals. For mining coal and gold mines, locals are hired on daily wages, providing economic opportunities for them. Almost 90 per cent of the labour force is used for the mining of minerals. International companies, as well as private companies, hire locals for mining. According to the International Labor Organization, it is estimated that nearly one hundred thousand coal miners are for underground mining and nearly ninety thousand miners are employed on the ground for loading and transportation purposes. Hence, it provides livelihood to thousands of people in Balochistan.
- ✓ Handcrafts
Balochistan is also famous for its cottage industry. Women in many areas of Balochistan do embroidery work on clothing, caps and bags. Baluchi rugs and carpets are world-famous for their intricate designs and patterns. Baluchi’s significant shoe, known as Chawat, holds great significance across the country. There has been increased demand for Chawat not only in Pakistan but overseas also. According to Small and Medium Development Authority (SMEDA) DATA, the cottage industry contributes 5% to the total GDP of Balochistan. Handcraft is also a main source of income for many people in Balochistan. They sell their craft and earn themselves a livelihood.
- ✓ Smuggling of goods
Thousands of people in Balochistan are involved in smuggling of items such as electronics , spare parts , clothes , gutka and dry fruits from Afghanistan. Due to the porous nature of the border, custom-paid vehicles are also smuggled at cheaper rates in Pakistan. According to the Federal Board of Revenue, smuggled goods and vehicles worth Rs .519 million were seized on 3rd September 2023.
- ✓ Smuggling of Irani oil and US dollars
Alongside the goods, Irani oil is also being smuggled into Pakistan at a massive level. According to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority report 2023, nearly 4,000 tonnes of fuel is being smuggled into Pakistan every day. This oil is not of good quality and affects the engine’s working, but it is cheaper than the petroleum products available in Pakistan. According to the Business Recorder Report 2023, more than 2 billion litres of Iranian oil are being smuggled to Pakistan. Additionally, dollars are also smuggled into Afghanistan from Pakistan. According to Bloomberg Report 2023, around 5 billion USD are being smuggled into Afghanistan from Pakistan every day.
3- Conclusion
Balochistan is the largest in land size, but it accounts for only 6.2% of Pakistan’s total population. People living there mainly rely on livestock, agriculture, fishing, mining and handicrafts for their income. However, Allah has gifted this land with massive natural resources of natural gas, oil, and minerals. The government must develop the infrastructure and do more development projects, which will not only provide the locals with job opportunities but also help Balochistan to develop, eventually contributing more to the country’s GDP.
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