Balochistan

Balochistan (بلوچستان)
Country	Pakistan
Capital  • Coordinates	Quetta  • 30°07′N 67°01′E / 30.12°N 67.01°E / 30.12; 67.01
Largest city	Quetta
Population (2009)  • Density	11,934,339[1]  • 24/km²
Area	347,190 km²
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
Main language(s)	Balochi Pashto
Status	Province
• Districts	•  30
• Towns	•
• Union councils	•  86
Established  • Governor/Commissioner  • Chief Minister  • Legislature (seats)	1 July 1970  • Nawab Zulfikar Ali Magsi  • Nawab Aslam Raisani (PPP)  • Provincial Assembly (65)
Website	Government of Balochistan

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by geographical area, constituting approximately 48% of the total area of Pakistan. At the 1998 census, Balochistan had a population of roughly 6.5 million.^[1] Its neighbouring regions are Iran to the west, Afghanistan and the North West Frontier Province to the north, Punjab and Sindh to the east. To the south is the Arabian Sea. The main languages in the province are Balochi, Pashto, and Brahui. The capital, and only city, is Quetta, and the other towns and villages are all under-developed. The Baloch, Pashtuns and Brahui form the major ethnic group in the province. Balochistan is rich in mineral resources; it is the second major supplier, after Sindh province, of natural gas.

Geography

Balochistan is located at the south-eastern edge of the Iranian plateau. It strategically bridges the Middle East and Southwest Asia to Central Asia and South Asia, and forms the closest oceanic frontage for the land-locked countries of Central Asia.

By the surface area, Balochistan is easily the largest of the four provinces of Pakistan at 347,190 km² (134,051 mi²), which composes approximately 44% of the total land area of Pakistan. The population density is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. The southern region is known as Makran. The central region is known as Kalat.

The Sulaiman Mountains dominate the northeast corner and the Bolan Pass is a natural route into Afghanistan towards Kandahar, used as a passageway during the British campaigns to Afghanistan.^[2] Much of the province south of the Quetta region is sparse desert terrain with pockets of towns mostly near rivers and streams.

The capital, Quetta, is located in the most densely populated district in the northeast of the province. It is situated in a river valley near the border with Afghanistan, with a road to Kandahar in the northwest.

At Gwadar on the coast of the Arabian Sea, the Pakistani government is currently undertaking a large project with Chinese help to build a large port.

Climate

Very cold winters and hot summers characterise the climate of the upper highlands. Winters of the lower highlands vary from extremely cold in the northern districts to mild conditions closer to the Makran coast. Summers are hot and dry, especially the arid zones of Chaghai and Kharan districts. The plain areas are also very hot in summer with temperatures rising as high as 135 °F (57 °C). Winters are mild on the plains with the temperature never falling below the freezing point. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitable.

Demographics

Balochistan has a population of around 11,934,339 million inhabitants, which makes up approximately 5% of the Pakistani population. 8% of the population are Panjabi, Persian.^{[citation needed]} The rest are mainly Hazaras, and other minority refugees from Afghanistan. Balochi speaking people are concentrated in the sparsely populated west, east, south and southeast; Brohui speaking in the centre of the province, while the Pashtuns are the majority in the north. The Kalat and Mastung area speak a Brohi. Quetta, the capital of the province, is largely populated with Pashtuns, with significant Baloch and Hazara minorities. A large number of Balochs moved in Quetta after it became the capital of Balochistan in 1970. Near the Kalat region and other parts of the province there are significant numbers of Baloch Brahui speakers. Along the coast various Makrani Balochi speaking predominate. In addition, Afghan refugees can be found in the province including Pashtuns and Tajiks. Many Sindhi farmers have also moved to the more arable lands in the east.^{[citation needed]}

Copper Deposits

One of the world's largest copper deposits (and its matrix-associated residual gold) have been found at Reko Diq in the Chagai District of Balochistan. Reko Diq is a giant mining project in Chaghi. The main license (EL5) is held jointly by the Government of Balochistan (25%), Antofagasta Minerals (37.5%) and Barrick Gold (37.5%). The deposits at Reko Diq are hoped to be even bigger than those of Sarcheshmeh in Iran and Escondida in Chile (presently, the second and the third largest proven deposits of copper in the world).

BHP Billiton, the world's largest copper mining company, began the project in cooperation with the Australian firm Tethyan, entering into a joint venture with the Balochistan government. The potential annual copper production has been estimated to be 900,000 to 2.2 million tons.^{[citation needed]}. The deposits seem to be largely of porphyry rock nature.^{[citation needed]}

Flora and Fauna

This section requires expansion.

Provincial symbols of Balochistan

Provincial language	بلوچی
Provincial animal	Dromedary camel
Provincial bird	Houbara bustard
Provincial tree	Date palm
Provincial flower	Ephedra (genus)

• Fauna of Balochistan (BALOCH)
• Flora of Balochistan (BALOCH)

Society

Balochistan culture is primarily tribal, deeply patriarchal and conservative. Baloch society is dominated by tribal chieftains called "Mirs, Sardars & Nawabs", who are the ruling elite of Balochistan and have been criticized for blocking the educational development and empowerment of the Baloch people^{[citation needed][weasel words]}, lest the their status quo be challenged.

History

Balochistan was the site of the earliest known farming settlements in Indus Valley Civilization, the earliest of which was Mehrgarh dated at 6500 BCE. Balochistan corresponds to the ancient Achaemenid province of Gedrosia. Balochistan was sparsely populated by various tribes, of Dravidian and Indo-Aryan origin, for centuries following the decline of the nearby Harappa-Mohenjo-daro civilisation to the east. Over time, Balochistan was invaded by various Eurasian groups including the Persians, Greeks, Kushans, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Mughals, Afghans, and the British. Aryan invasions appear to have led to the eventual demise of the Elamo-Dravidian^[3] Brahui tribes who were original people of the land where Balochs arrived later but now have mixed together. Aryan invasions appear to likely they are an Iranian group who have possibly absorbed Arab ancestry and cultural traits instead, it is also believed that Baloch are of Arab blood, it could be they left the Arab world when Iraq broke from Persia in 652 AD and there is historical evidence that suggests they lived in (Khuzestan) and (Bushehr) before moving to Kerman and Hormozgan. The Balochs began to arrive from their homeland in north-west Iran and appear to be an offshoot of the Medes, another branch being that of Kurdish tribes that would mainly populate the western end of the Iranian plateau. The Baloch tribes eventually became a sizeable group rivalled only by another Iranian group where Brohis and Pashtuns came under influences of Balochs.

In the 7th century the region was divided into two, the south was part of Kermān Province of the Persian Empire and the north was part of the Persian province Sistan. In early 644, Caliph Umar sent Suhail ibn Adi from Busra to conquer the Kerman region of Iran; he was made governor of Kerman. From Kerman he entered the western Baluchistan and conquered the region near to Persian frontiers.^[4] South Western Baluchistan was conquered during the campaign in Sistan the same year. During Caliph Uthman’s reign in 652, Baluchistan was re-conquered during the campaign against the revolt in Kerman, under the command of Majasha ibn Masood, it was first time when western Baluchistan came directly under the Laws of Caliphate and gave tribute on agriculture.^[5] In those days western Baluchistan was included in the dominion of Kerman. In 654 Abdulrehman ibn Samrah was made governor of Sistan, an Islamic army was sent under him to crush the revolt in Zarang, which is now in southern Afghanistan. Conquering Zarang a column moved north ward to conquer areas up to Kabul and Ghazni in Hindu Kush Mountains, while another column moved towards North western Baluchistan and conquered area up to the ancient city of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan),^[6] by 654 the whole of what is now Baluchistan province of Pakistan was under the rule of Rashidun Caliphate except for the well defended mountain town of QaiQan (now Kalat), which was conquered during Caliph Ali’s reign.^[7] Abdulrehman ibn Samrah made Zaranj his provincial capital and remained governor of these conquered areas from 654 to 656, until Uthman was murdered. During the Caliphate of Ali, the areas of Baluchistan, Makran again broke into revolt. Due to civil war in the Islamic empire Ali was unable to deal with these areas until 660 when he sent a large force under the command of Haris ibn Marah Abdi towards Makran, Baluchistan and Sind. Haris ibn Marah Abdi arrived in Makran and conquered it by force then moved north ward to north eastern Baluchistan and re-conquered Qandabil (Bolan), then again moving south finally conquered Kalat after a fierce battle.^{[citation needed]} Rashidun Caliphate and he budget for the province in recent years with greater emphasis on education, roads and increased job opportunities.^{[citation needed]}

A Baloch shepherd, from a 1900 photo

In 15th century Mir Chakar Khan Rind became first king of Baluchistan. Balochistan subsequently was dominated by empires based in Iran and Afghanistan as well as the Mughal Empire based in India. Nadir Shah won the allegiance of the rulers of Baluchistan, and later the successor of Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah Durrani also won allegiance of that areas rulers. The area would eventually revert to local Baloch control, while parts of the northern regions would continue to be dominated by Pashtun tribes.

During the period of the British Raj, there were four Princely states in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876 Sir Robert Sandeman concluded a treaty with the Khan of Kalat and brought his territories - including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela - under British suzerainty. After the Second Afghan War of 1878-80, the Treaty of Gandamak concluded in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta Pishin,Sibi, Harnai, and Thal Chotiali to the British. In 1883 the British leased the Bolan Pass, southeast of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat on a permanent basis. In 1887 some areas of Balochistan were declared British territory. In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan to as the boundary between the Afghans and the British.

There were two devastating earthquakes in Balochistan during British colonial rule: The 1935 Balochistan Earthquake devastated Quetta and the 1945 Balochistan Earthquake, with its epicentre in Makran region, was felt in other regions of South Asia.

Provincial Government

The Unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 4% are reserved for non-Muslims and 16% for women only.

Secessionist Movement

The Balochistan Liberation Army (also Baloch Liberation Army or Boluchistan Liberation army) (BLA) is a Baloch nationalist militant secessionist organization. The stated goals of the organization include the establishment of an independent state of Balochistan free of Pakistani and Iranian Federations. The name Baloch Liberation Army first became public in summer 2000, after the organization claimed credit for a series of bomb attacks in markets and railways lines. In 2006, the BLA was declared to be a terrorist organization by the Pakistani and British governments.

Administrative Districts

• There are 27 Districts in the province of Balochistan ^[8]. The Districts are numbered alphabetically.

Awaran Barkhan Bolan Chagai Dera Bugti Gwadar Jafarabad Jhal Magsi Kalat Kech Kharan Kohlu Khuzdar Qilla Abdullah

Qilla Saifullah Lasbela Loralai Mastung Musakhel Naseerabad Nushki Panjgur Pishin Quetta Sibi Zhob Ziarat

Major cities

• Barkhan
• Chaman
• Dera Allah Yar
• Dera Murad Jamali
• Gwadar
• Hub
• Kalat
• Kharan
• Khuzdar
• Killa Saifullah
• Loralai
• Mastung
• Muslim Bagh
• Nushki
• Quetta
• Sheerani
• Sibi
• Turbat
• Zhob
• Ziarat
• Harnai
• Washuk
• Sherani
• Washuk
• Harnai

Economy

Balochistan's share of the National Economy has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.^[9] The economy of the province is largely based upon the production of natural gas, coal and minerals. Outside Quetta, the infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan. Tourism remains limited but has increased due to the exotic appeal of the province. Limited farming in the east as well as fishing along the Arabian Sea coastline are other forms of income and sustenance for the local populations. Due to the tribal lifestyle of many Baluch and Brahui, animal husbandry is important as are trading bazaars found throughout the province.

Though the province remains largely underdeveloped, there are currently several major development projects in progress in Balochistan, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar.^[10] The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China and the Central Asian republics. It is an accepted fact that this is largely a Chinese naval base in the Arabian Sea with the main aim of encircling India.^[11] The total cost of the project is estimated at more than US$2 billion. China has also invested in a coastal highway to link Gwadar with Pakistan's largest city, Karachi.^[12]

Further west is the Mirani Dam^[13] multipurpose project, on the River Dasht, 50 kilometres west of Turbat in the Makran Division. It will provide dependable irrigation supplies for the development of agriculture and add more than 35,000 km² of arable land. There is also Chinese involvement in the nearby Saindak gold and copper mining project.

Education

• Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences, Quetta
• Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar
• Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta
• Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Science, Lasbela
• Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta
• University of Balochistan, Quetta
• Iqra University, Quetta
• Govt Science college, Quetta

Chart of the Education Market of Balochistan, 1998

Sources:^[14][15]

Also see^[16]

Famous people

There are many famous people from Balochistan including the following:

Historical Personalities

• Mir Chakar Khan Rind
• Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur
• Nawab Bangul khan kakar
• Mir Ali Murad Talpur
• Mir Tharo Khan Talpur

Pre-Independence (pre-1947)

• Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
• Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai Shaheed.
• Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir Khan
• Mir Gul Khan Naseer
• Khan Abdul Ghafoor Khan Durrani
• Nawab Yousaf Aziz Magsi
• Palay Khan
• Nawabzada Mir Shahbaz Khan Nosherwani
• Nawab Ghaus Bakhsh Raisani
• Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
• Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir Khan

Post-Independence (post-1947)

• Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
• Prince Karim Khan
• Prince Jam Kamal Khan
• Zafarullah Khan Jamali
• Nawab Nowroz Khan
• Mir Gul Khan Naseer
• Sardar Attaullah Mengal
• Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti
• Mir Murad Abro
• Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri
• Sardar Sherbaz Khan Mazari
• Jam Mir Mohammad Yousaf
• Nawab Zulfikar Ali Magsi
• Nawab Mansoor Khan Bazkhail
• Sardar Akhtar Mengal
• Sanaullah Baloch
• Balach Marri
• Brahmdagh Bugti
• Lt.General Abdul Qadir Baloch
• Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
• Mahmood Khan Achakzai
• Ali Ahmad Kurd
• Sher Muhammad Baloch
• Sardar Bahadur Khan Bangulzai

Entertainment

• Kadir Khan Kakar(famous Indian actor)
• Raaj Kumar
• Ayoob Khoso
• Sikander Baloch
• Amanullah Nasir
• Jamal Shah

Adventure Sports

• Hayatullah Khan Durrani

Authors

• Gul Khan Nasir
• Dur Mohammad Kassi
• Mineer Ahmed Badini
• Siddiq Baloch
• Jan Dashti
• Sanaullah Baloch

See also

• Baloch
• Quetta
• Gawadar
• Marri and Bugti Country
• Las Bela
• Balochistan (region)
• Balochistan (Iran)
• Balochistan (Afghanistan)
• Pashtuns
• Brahui
• List of cities in Balochistan
• Chief Minister of Balochistan
• Government of Balochistan
• Baluchistan honor killings

References

External links

Pakistan portal

• 30°07′N 67°01′E / 30.12°N 67.01°E / 30.12; 67.01Coordinates: 30°07′N 67°01′E / 30.12°N 67.01°E / 30.12; 67.01^{[citation needed]} Geo-Links for Balochistan (Pakistan)

Find more about Balochistan (Pakistan) on Wikipedia's sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary
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Source texts from Wikisource
Images and media from Commons
News stories from Wikinews
Learning resources from Wikiversity

• Government of Balochistan
• Balochistan at the Open Directory Project
• Balochistan travel guide from Wikitravel
• [1]
• [2]
• Baloch Republican Army frees seven kidnapped labourers by Qurat ul ain Siddiqui

Further reading

• Johnson, E.A., et al. (1999). Lithofacies, depositional environments, and regional stratigraphy of the lower Eocene Ghazij Formation, Balochistan, Pakistan [U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1599). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.

v • d • e Administrative divisions of Balochistan (Pakistan) Provincial capital Quetta Districts Awaran · Barkhan · Bolan · Chagai · Dera Bugti · Gwadar · Jafarabad · Jhal Magsi · Kalat · Kech · Kharan · Khuzdar · Kohlu · Lasbela · Loralai · Mastung · Musakhel · Nasirabad · Nushki · Panjgur · Pishin · Qilla Abdullah · Qilla Saifullah · Quetta · Sibi · Zhob · Ziarat Disputed Paktika area ·

v • d • e Baloch nationalism Regions Balochistan (region) · Balochistan (Pakistan) · Sistan and Baluchestan Province (Iran) · Balochistan (Afghanistan) Parties and student groups Balochistan National Party · Jamhoori Watan Party · National Party · Baloch National Movement · Baloch Republican Party · Baloch National Front · Baloch Students Organization · Baloch Students Organization- Awami · Balochistan People's Party · Kalat State National Party Militant groups Balochistan Liberation Army · Balochistan Liberation Front · Baluch People's Liberation Front · Popular Front for Armed Resistance · Baluchi Liberation Front · Baluchi Autonomist Movement · Front of Nimruz · Baloch Republican Army · Balochistan Liberation United Front · Parrari Key figures Jumma Khan Marri · Khair Bakhsh Marri · Dad Shah · Sher Mohammad Marri · Ataullah Mengal · Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo · Mir Gul Khan Naseer · Nawab Nowroz Khan · Brahamdagh Khan Bugti · Allah Nazar Baloch · Abdul Hai Baloch · Yousaf Aziz Magsi · Prince Karim Khan · Akhtar Mengal  · Hasil Bizenjo · Ghulam Mohammed Baloch · Akbar Bugti · Nawab Nowroz Khan · Mir Lawang Khan · Hameed Baloch · Balach Marri History Balochistan conflict · 1970s Insurgency and Rahimuddin's Reign · Iraqi support · Arms discovery in Iraqi Embassy · Turbat killings National myths/epics Mir Chakar Rind · Hani and Sheh Mureed