Balochistan, Pakistan
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Protection padlock Template:Use Pakistani English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox settlement with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | alt | anthem | anthem_link | area_blank1_acre | area_blank1_dunam | area_blank1_ha | area_blank1_km2 | area_blank1_sq_mi | area_blank1_title | area_blank2_acre | area_blank2_dunam | area_blank2_ha | area_blank2_km2 | area_blank2_sq_mi | area_blank2_title | area_code | area_code_type | area_codes | area_footnotes | area_land_acre | area_land_dunam | area_land_ha | area_land_km2 | area_land_sq_mi | area_metro_acre | area_metro_dunam | area_metro_footnotes | area_metro_ha | area_metro_km2 | area_metro_sq_mi | area_note | area_rank | area_rural_acre | area_rural_dunam | area_rural_footnotes | area_rural_ha | area_rural_km2 | area_rural_sq_mi | area_total_acre | area_total_dunam | area_total_ha | area_total_km2 | area_total_sq_mi | area_urban_acre | area_urban_dunam | area_urban_footnotes | area_urban_ha | area_urban_km2 | area_urban_sq_mi | area_water_acre | area_water_dunam | area_water_ha | area_water_km2 | area_water_percent | area_water_sq_mi | blank_emblem_alt | blank_emblem_link | blank_emblem_size | blank_emblem_type | blank_info | blank_info_sec1 | blank_info_sec2 | blank_name | blank_name_sec1 | blank_name_sec2 | blank1_info | blank1_info_sec1 | blank1_info_sec2 | blank1_name | blank1_name_sec1 | blank1_name_sec2 | blank2_info | blank2_info_sec1 | blank2_info_sec2 | blank2_name | blank2_name_sec1 | blank2_name_sec2 | blank3_info | blank3_info_sec1 | blank3_info_sec2 | blank3_name | blank3_name_sec1 | blank3_name_sec2 | blank4_info | blank4_info_sec1 | blank4_info_sec2 | blank4_name | blank4_name_sec1 | blank4_name_sec2 | blank5_info | blank5_info_sec1 | blank5_info_sec2 | blank5_name | blank5_name_sec1 | blank5_name_sec2 | blank6_info | blank6_info_sec1 | blank6_info_sec2 | blank6_name | blank6_name_sec1 | blank6_name_sec2 | blank7_info | blank7_info_sec1 | blank7_info_sec2 | blank7_name | blank7_name_sec1 | blank7_name_sec2 | caption | code1_info | code1_name | code2_info | code2_name | coor_pinpoint | coor_type | coordinates | coordinates_footnotes | demographics_type1 | demographics_type2 | demographics1_footnotes | demographics1_info1 | demographics1_info10 | demographics1_info2 | demographics1_info3 | demographics1_info4 | demographics1_info5 | demographics1_info6 | demographics1_info7 | demographics1_info8 | demographics1_info9 | demographics1_title1 | demographics1_title10 | demographics1_title2 | demographics1_title3 | demographics1_title4 | demographics1_title5 | demographics1_title6 | demographics1_title7 | demographics1_title8 | demographics1_title9 | demographics2_footnotes | demographics2_info1 | demographics2_info10 | demographics2_info2 | demographics2_info3 | demographics2_info4 | demographics2_info5 | demographics2_info6 | demographics2_info7 | demographics2_info8 | demographics2_info9 | demographics2_title1 | demographics2_title10 | demographics2_title2 | demographics2_title3 | demographics2_title4 | demographics2_title5 | demographics2_title6 | demographics2_title7 | demographics2_title8 | demographics2_title9 | dimensions_footnotes | dunam_link | elevation_footnotes | elevation_ft | elevation_link | elevation_m | elevation_max_footnotes | elevation_max_ft | elevation_max_m | elevation_max_point | elevation_max_rank | elevation_min_footnotes | elevation_min_ft | elevation_min_m | elevation_min_point | elevation_min_rank | elevation_point | embed | established_date | established_date1 | established_date2 | established_date3 | established_date4 | established_date5 | established_date6 | established_date7 | established_title | established_title1 | established_title2 | established_title3 | established_title4 | established_title5 | established_title6 | established_title7 | etymology | extinct_date | extinct_title | flag_alt | flag_border | flag_link | flag_size | footnotes | founder | geocode | governing_body | government_footnotes | government_type | government_blank1_title | government_blank1 | government_blank2_title | government_blank2 | government_blank2_title | government_blank3 | government_blank3_title | government_blank3 | government_blank4_title | government_blank4 | government_blank5_title | government_blank5 | government_blank6_title | government_blank6 | grid_name | grid_position | image_alt | image_blank_emblem | image_caption | image_flag | image_map | image_map1 | image_seal | image_shield | image_size | image_skyline | imagesize | iso_code | leader_name | leader_name1 | leader_name2 | leader_name3 | leader_name4 | leader_party | leader_title | leader_title1 | leader_title2 | leader_title3 | leader_title4 | length_km | length_mi | map_alt | map_alt1 | map_caption | map_caption1 | mapsize | mapsize1 | module | motto | motto_link | mottoes | name | named_for | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nickname_link | nicknames | official_name | other_name | p1 | p10 | p11 | p12 | p13 | p14 | p15 | p16 | p17 | p18 | p19 | p2 | p20 | p21 | p22 | p23 | p24 | p25 | p26 | p27 | p28 | p29 | p3 | p30 | p31 | p32 | p33 | p34 | p35 | p36 | p37 | p38 | p39 | p4 | p40 | p41 | p42 | p43 | p44 | p45 | p46 | p47 | p48 | p49 | p5 | p50 | p6 | p7 | p8 | p9 | parts | parts_style | parts_type | pop_est_as_of | pop_est_footnotes | population | population_as_of | population_blank1 | population_blank1_footnotes | population_blank1_title | population_blank2 | population_blank2_footnotes | population_blank2_title | population_demonym | population_demonyms | population_density_blank1_km2 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi | population_density_blank2_km2 | population_density_blank2_sq_mi | population_density_km2 | population_density_metro_km2 | population_density_metro_sq_mi | population_density_rank | population_density_rural_km2 | population_density_rural_sq_mi | population_density_sq_mi | population_density_urban_km2 | population_density_urban_sq_mi | population_est | population_footnotes | population_metro | population_metro_footnotes | population_note | population_rank | population_rural | population_rural_footnotes | population_total | population_urban | population_urban_footnotes | postal_code | postal_code_type | postal2_code | postal2_code_type | pushpin_image | pushpin_label | pushpin_label_position | pushpin_map | pushpin_map_alt | pushpin_map_caption | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall | pushpin_map_narrow | pushpin_mapsize | pushpin_outside | pushpin_overlay | pushpin_relief | registration_plate | registration_plate_type | seal_alt | seal_link | seal_size | seal_type | seat | seat_type | seat1 | seat1_type | seat2 | seat2_type | settlement_type | shield_alt | shield_link | shield_size | short_description | subdivision_name | subdivision_name1 | subdivision_name2 | subdivision_name3 | subdivision_name4 | subdivision_name5 | subdivision_name6 | subdivision_type | subdivision_type1 | subdivision_type2 | subdivision_type3 | subdivision_type4 | subdivision_type5 | subdivision_type6 | timezone | timezone_DST | timezone_link | timezone1 | timezone1_DST | timezone1_location | timezone2 | timezone2_DST | timezone2_location | timezone3 | timezone3_DST | timezone3_location | timezone4 | timezone4_DST | timezone4_location | timezone5 | timezone5_DST | timezone5_location | total_type | translit_lang1 | translit_lang1_info | translit_lang1_info1 | translit_lang1_info2 | translit_lang1_info3 | translit_lang1_info4 | translit_lang1_info5 | translit_lang1_info6 | translit_lang1_type | translit_lang1_type1 | translit_lang1_type2 | translit_lang1_type3 | translit_lang1_type4 | translit_lang1_type5 | translit_lang1_type6 | translit_lang2 | translit_lang2_info | translit_lang2_info1 | translit_lang2_info2 | translit_lang2_info3 | translit_lang2_info4 | translit_lang2_info5 | translit_lang2_info6 | translit_lang2_type | translit_lang2_type1 | translit_lang2_type2 | translit_lang2_type3 | translit_lang2_type4 | translit_lang2_type5 | translit_lang2_type6 | type | unit_pref | utc_offset | utc_offset_DST | utc_offset1 | utc_offset1_DST | utc_offset2 | utc_offset2_DST | utc_offset3 | utc_offset3_DST | utc_offset4 | utc_offset4_DST | utc_offset5 | utc_offset5_DST | website | width_km | width_mi | mapframe | mapframe-area_km2 | mapframe-area_mi2 | mapframe-caption | mapframe-coord | mapframe-coordinates | mapframe-custom | mapframe-frame-coord | mapframe-frame-coordinates | mapframe-frame-height | mapframe-frame-width | mapframe-geomask | mapframe-geomask-fill | mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity | mapframe-geomask-stroke-color | mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour | mapframe-geomask-stroke-width | mapframe-height | mapframe-id | mapframe-length_km | mapframe-length_mi | mapframe-marker | mapframe-marker-color | mapframe-marker-colour | mapframe-point | mapframe-shape | mapframe-shape-fill | mapframe-shape-fill-opacity | mapframe-stroke-color | mapframe-stroke-colour | mapframe-stroke-width | mapframe-switcher | mapframe-width | mapframe-wikidata | mapframe-zoom }}{{#invoke:Check for clobbered parameters|check | template = Infobox settlement | cat = Template:Main other | population; population_total | image_size; imagesize | image_alt; alt | image_caption; caption }}{{#if:
|
}}Template:Main other Balochistan (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Langx; Template:Langx, {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a province of Pakistan. Located in the southwestern region of the country, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land area but is the least populated one. It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the north-east, Punjab to the east and Sindh to the south-east; shares international borders with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north; and is bound by the Arabian Sea to the south. Balochistan is an extensive plateau of rough terrain divided into basins by ranges of sufficient heights and ruggedness. It has a large deep sea port, the Port of Gwadar lying in the Arabian Sea.
Although it makes up about 44% of the land area of Pakistan, only 5% of it is arable and it is noted for an extremely dry desert climate.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Government of Balochistan">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this, agriculture and livestock make up about 47% of Balochistan's economy.<ref name="Government of Balochistan" />
The name "Balochistan" means "the land of the Baloch people".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Largely underdeveloped, its economy is also dominated by natural resources, especially its natural gas fields. Aside from Quetta, the second-largest city of the province is Turbat in the south, while another area of major economic importance is the port city of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, an emerging future business hub.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Early historyEdit
Template:More citations needed section
Balochistan occupies the very southeasternmost portion of the Iranian plateau, the setting for the earliest known farming settlements in the pre-Indus Valley civilisation era, the earliest of which was Mehrgarh, dated at 7000 BCE,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> within the province. Balochistan marked the westernmost extent of civilisation. Centuries before the arrival of Islam in the seventh century, parts of Balochistan were ruled by the Paratarajas, an Indo-Scythian dynasty. At certain times, the Kushans also held political sway in parts of Balochistan.Template:Citation needed
The Hindu Sewa Dynasty ruled parts of Balochistan, chiefly Kalat.<ref name="FowleRai1923">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Nisa1979">Template:Cite book</ref> The Sibi Division, which was carved out of Quetta Division and Kalat Division in 1974, derives its name from Rani Sewi, the queen of the Sewa dynasty.<ref name="Quddus1990">Template:Cite book</ref>
The region came under rule during the reign of King Kay Khosrow of Iran of Kayanian dynasty. The Baloch, under the command of Ashkash,<ref name=":ashkash">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> conquered this land, which Makran was a part of Balochistan.<ref name=":Two Essays on Baloch History and Folklore">Template:Cite book</ref>
The remnants of the earliest people in Balochistan were the Brahui people, a Dravidian speaking people. The Brahuis retained the Dravidian language throughout the millennias.<ref name="Andrew Dalby - Hindu origin of Brahui people">Template:Cite book</ref>
Although during the Stone and Bronze Age and Alexander the Great's empire an indigenous population existed, the Baloch people themselves did not enter the region until the 14th century CE.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A theory of the origin of the Baloch people, the largest ethnic group in the region, is that they are of Median descent.<ref>M. Longworth Dames, Balochi Folklore, Folklore, Vol. 13, No. 3 (29 September 1902), pp. 252–274</ref>
Arrival of IslamEdit
In 654, Abdulrehman ibn Samrah, governor of Sistan and the newly emerged Rashidun caliphate at the expense of Sassanid Persia and the Byzantine Empire, sent an Islamic army to crush a revolt in Zaranj, which is now in southern Afghanistan. After conquering Zaranj, a column of the army pushed north, conquering Kabul and Ghazni, in the Hindu Kush mountain range, while another column moved through Quetta District in north-western Balochistan and conquered the area up to the ancient cities of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan).<ref>Tabqat ibn Saad, Vol. 8, p. 471</ref> It is documented that the major settlements, falling within today's province, became in 654 controlled by the Rashidun caliphate, except for the well-defended mountain town of QaiQan which is now Kalat.
During the caliphate of Ali, a revolt broke out in southern Balochistan's Makran region.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 663, during the reign of Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, his Muslim rule lost control of north-eastern Balochistan and Kalat when Haris ibn Marah and a large part of his army died in battle against a revolt in Kalat.<ref>Tarikh al Khulfa, Vol. 1, pp. 214–215, 229</ref>
Pre-modern eraEdit
In the 15th century, Mir Chakar Khan Rind became the first Sirdar of Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani Balochistan. He was a close aide of the Timurid ruler Humayun, and was succeeded by the Khanate of Kalat, which owed allegiance to the Mughal Empire. Later, Nader Shah won the allegiance of the rulers of eastern Balochistan. He ceded Kalhora, one of the Sindh territories of Sibi-Kachi, to the Khanate of Kalat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Iranica.com Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan Empire, also won the allegiance of that area's rulers, and many Baloch fought under him during the Third Battle of Panipat. Most of the area would eventually revert to local Baloch control after Afghan rule.
Colonial eraEdit
In 1876, northern Baluchistan became one of the presidencies and provinces of British India in colonial India.<ref name="Henige1970">Template:Cite book</ref> During this time from the fall of the Durrani Empire in 1823, four princely states were recognised and reinforced in Balochistan: Makran, Kharan, Las Bela and Kalat. In 1876, Robert Sandeman negotiated the Treaty of Kalat, which brought the Khan's territories, including Kharan, Makran, and Las Bela, under British protection, even though they remained independent princely states.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the Second Afghan War was ended by the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879, the Afghan Emir ceded the districts of Quetta, Pishin, Harnai, Sibi and Thal Chotiali to British control. On 1 April 1883, the British took control of the Bolan Pass, south-east of Quetta, from the Khan of Kalat. In 1887, small additional areas of Balochistan were declared British territory.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1893, Sir Mortimer Durand negotiated an agreement with the Amir of Afghanistan, Abdur Rahman Khan, to fix the Durand Line running from Chitral to Balochistan as the boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British-controlled areas.Template:Citation needed Two devastating earthquakes occurred in Balochistan during British colonial rule: the 1935 Quetta earthquake, which devastated Quetta, and the 1945 Balochistan earthquake with its epicentre in the Makran region.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During the time of the Indian independence movement, "three pro-Congress parties were still active in Balochistan's politics apart from Balochistan's Muslim League", such as the Anjuman-i-Watan Baluchistan, which favoured a united India and opposed its partition.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
After independenceEdit
In British-ruled Colonial India, Baluchistan contained a Chief Commissioner's province and princely states (including Kalat, Makran, Las Bela and Kharan) that became a part of Pakistan.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The province's Shahi Jirga (the grand council of tribal elders<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) and the non-official members of the Quetta Municipality,<ref name="CheemaRiemer1990" /> according to the Pakistani narrative,<ref name="rafisheikh" />Template:Rp agreed to join Pakistan unanimously on 29 June 1947;<ref name="CheemaRiemer1990">Template:Cite book</ref> however, the Shahi Jirga was stripped of its members from the Kalat State prior to the vote.<ref name="rafisheikh"/>Template:Rp The then-president of the Baluchistan Muslim League, Qazi Muhammad Isa, informed Muhammad Ali Jinnah that "Shahi Jirga in no way represents the popular wishes of the masses" and that members of the Kalat State were "excluded from voting; only representatives from the British part of the province voted and the British part included the leased areas of Quetta, Nasirabad Tehsil, Nushki and Bolan Agency."<ref name="rafisheikh"/>Template:Rp Following the referendum, on 22 June 1947 the Khan of Kalat received a letter from members of the Shahi Jirga, as well as sardars from the leased areas of Baluchistan, stating that they, "as a part of the Baloch nation, were a part of the Kalat state too" and that if the question of Baluchistan's accession to Pakistan arise, "they should be deemed part of the Kalat state rather than (British) Balochistan".<ref name="rafisheikh"/>Template:Rp This has brought into question whether an actual vote took place.<ref name="rafisheikh"/>Template:Rp Political scientist Salman Rafi Sheikh, in locating the origins of the insurgency in Balochistan, says "that Balochistan's accession to Pakistan was, as against the officially projected narrative, not based upon consensus, nor was support for Pakistan overwhelming. What this manipulation indicates is that even before formally becoming a part of Pakistan, Balochistan had fallen a prey to political victimization."<ref name="rafisheikh">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
Initially aspiring for independence,<ref name="CheemaRiemer1990" /> the Khan of Kalat finally acceded to Pakistan on 27 March 1948 after period of negotiations with Pakistan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The signing of the Instrument of Accession by Ahmad Yar Khan led his brother, Prince Abdul Karim, to revolt against his brother's decision due to their family rift.<ref name="Qaiser Butt-2013"/> in July 1948.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Princes Agha Abdul Karim Baloch and Muhammad Rahim refused to lay down arms, leading the Dosht-e Jhalawan in unconventional attacks on the army until 1950.<ref name="Qaiser Butt-2013">Template:Cite news</ref> The Prince indulged in Terror activities without any assistance from others.<ref name="Siddiqi2012">Template:Cite book</ref> Jinnah and his successors allowed Yar Khan to retain his title until the province's dissolution in 1955.
Insurgencies by Baloch nationalists took place in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63 and 1973–77, with a new ongoing insurgency by autonomy-seeking Baloch groups since 2003.<ref name="Hussain-4-25-13">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=bbc-22-2-14>Template:Cite news</ref> While many Baloch support the demand for autonomy, the majority are not interested in seceding from Pakistan.<ref>37pc Baloch favour independence: UK survey" Template:Webarchive. thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2017-03-07.</ref>
At a press conference on 8 June 2015 in Quetta, Balochistan's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti accused India's prime minister Narendra Modi of openly supporting terrorism. Bugti implicated India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of being responsible for recent attacks at military bases in Smangli and Khalid, and for subverting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Gwadar, a region of Balochistan, was a colony of Oman for more than a century, and in the 1960s Pakistan took over the land. Many people in this region are therefore Omani.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GeographyEdit
Balochistan is situated in the southwest of Pakistan and covers an area of Template:Convert. It is Pakistan's largest province by area, constituting 44% of Pakistan's total landmass. The province is bordered by Afghanistan to the north and north-west, Iran to the south-west, Punjab and Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the north-east. To the south lies the Arabian Sea. Balochistan is located on the south-eastern part of the Iranian plateau. It borders the geopolitical regions of the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. Balochistan lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz and provides the shortest route from seaports to Central Asia. Its geographical location has placed the otherwise desolate region in the scope of competing for global interests for all of recorded history.
The capital city Quetta is located in a densely populated portion of the Sulaiman Mountains in the northeast of the province. It is situated in a river valley near the Bolan Pass, which has been used as the route of choice from the coast to Central Asia, entering through Afghanistan's Kandahar region. The British and other historic empires have crossed the region to invade Afghanistan by this route.<ref>Bolan Pass – Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition</ref>
Balochistan is rich in exhaustible and renewable resources; it is the second major supplier of natural gas in Pakistan. The province's renewable and human resource potential has not been systematically measured or exploited. Local inhabitants have chosen to live in towns and have relied on sustainable water sources for thousands of years.
ClimateEdit
The climate of the upper highlands is characterised by very cold winters and hot summers. In the lower highlands, winters vary from extremely cold in northern districts Ziarat, Quetta, Kalat, Muslim Baagh and Khanozai, where temperatures can drop to Template:Convert, to milder conditions closer to the Makran coast. Winters are mild on the plains, with temperatures never falling below freezing point. Summers are hot and dry, especially in the arid zones of Chagai and Kharan districts. The plains are also very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching Template:Convert. The record highest temperature, Template:Convert, was recorded in Sibi on 26 May 2010,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> exceeding the previous record, Template:Convert. Other hot areas include Turbat and Dalbandin. The desert climate is characterised by hot and very arid conditions. Occasionally, strong windstorms make these areas very inhospitable.
Government and politicsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In common with the other provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan has a parliamentary form of government. The ceremonial head of the province is the Governor, who is appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the provincial Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, the province's chief executive, is normally the leader of the largest political party or alliance of parties in the provincial assembly.
The unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 11 are reserved for women and 3 reserved for non-Muslims. The judicial branch of government is carried out by the Balochistan High Court, which is based in Quetta and headed by a Chief Justice.
Besides dominant Pakistan-wide political parties (such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party), Balochistan nationalist parties (such as the National Party and the Balochistan National Party (Mengal)) have been prominent in the province.<ref name="Hussain-4-25-13"/>
Administrative divisionsEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
For administrative purposes, the province is divided into seven divisions: Kalat, Makran, Nasirabad, Quetta, Sibi, Zhob and Rakhshan. This divisional level was abolished in 2000, but restored after the 2008 election. Each division is under an appointed commissioner. The seven divisions are further subdivided into 36 districts:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As of June 2021, there are eight divisions. The eighth division, Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Sr. No. | District | Headquarters | Area
(km2)<ref name="2023census">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Population
(2023)<ref name="2023census" /> |
Density
(people/km2)<ref name="2023census" /> |
Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awaran | Awaran | 29,510 | 178,958 | 6.1 | Kalat | |
| 2 | Barkhan | Barkhan | 3,514 | 210,249 | 59.8 | Loralai | |
| 3 | Chagai | Dalbandin | 44,748 | 269,192 | 6.0 | Rakhshan | |
| 4 | Chaman | Chaman | 1,341 | 466,218 | 347.7 | Quetta | |
| 5 | Dera Bugti | Dera Bugti | 10,160 | 355,274 | 35.0 | Sibi | |
| 6 | Duki | Duki | 4,233 | 205,044 | 48.4 | Loralai | |
| 7 | Gwadar | Gwadar | 12,637 | 305,160 | 24.2 | Makran | |
| 8 | Harnai | Harnai | 2,492 | 127,571 | 51.2 | Sibi | |
| 9 | Hub | Hub | N/A | N/A | N/A | Kalat | |
| 10 | Jafarabad | Dera Allahyar | 1,643 | 594,558 | 361.1 | Nasirabad | |
| 11 | Jhal Magsi | Gandava | 3,615 | 203,368 | 56.2 | Nasirabad | |
| 12 | Kachhi | Dhadar | 5,682 | 442,674 | 77.9 | Nasirabad | |
| 13 | Kalat | Kalat | 7,654 | 271,560 | 35.5 | Kalat | |
| 14 | Kech | Turbat | 22,539 | 1,060,931 | 47.0 | Makran | |
| 15 | Kharan | Kharan | 14,958 | 260,352 | 17.4 | Rakhshan | |
| 16 | Khuzdar | Khuzdar | 35,380 | 997,214 | 28.2 | Kalat | |
| 17 | Kohlu | Kohlu | 7,610 | 260,220 | 34.2 | Sibi | |
| 18 | Lasbela | Uthal | 15,153 | 680,977 | 44.9 | Kalat | |
| 19 | Loralai | Loralai | 3,785 | 272,432 | 72.0 | Loralai | |
| 20 | Mastung | Mastung | 3,308 | 313,271 | 94.7 | Kalat | |
| 21 | Musakhel | Musa Khel Bazar | 5,728 | 182,275 | 31.8 | Loralai | |
| 22 | Nasirabad | Dera Murad Jamali | 3,387 | 563,315 | 166.1 | Nasirabad | |
| 23 | Nushki | Nushki | 5,797 | 207,834 | 35.9 | Rakhshan | |
| 24 | Panjgur | Panjgur | 16,891 | 509,781 | 30.2 | Makran | |
| 25 | Pishin | Pishin | 6,218 | 835,482 | 134.6 | Quetta | |
| 26 | Quetta | Quetta | 3,447 | 2,595,492 | 754.3 | Quetta | |
| 27 | Qila Abdullah | Jungle Pir Alizai | 3,553 | 361,971 | 102.3 | Quetta | |
| 28 | Qilla Saifullah | Qilla Saifullah | 6,831 | 380,200 | 55.7 | Zhob | |
| 29 | Sherani | Sherani | 4,310 | 191,687 | 44.5 | Zhob | |
| 30 | Sibi | Sibi | 7,121 | 224,148 | 31.5 | Sibi | |
| 31 | Sohbatpur | Sohbatpur | 802 | 240,106 | 299.6 | Nasirabad | |
| 32 | Surab | Surab | 762 | 279,038 | 366.5 | Kalat | |
| 33 | Washuk | Washuk | 33,093 | 302,623 | 9.1 | Rakhshan | |
| 34 | Zhob | Zhob | 15,987 | 355,692 | 22.2 | Zhob | |
| 35 | Ziarat | Ziarat | 3,301 | 189,535 | 57.4 | Kalat | |
| 36 | Usta Muhammad | Usta Muhammad | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nasirabad |
DemographicsEdit
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Population | Urban |
|
| ||
| 1901 | 810,746<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp | N/A |
| 1911 | 834,703<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp | N/A |
| 1921 | 799,625<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp | N/A |
| 1931 | 868,617<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp | N/A |
| 1941 | 857,835<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp | 13.30%<ref name="baluchistan1941"/>Template:Rp |
| 1951 | 1,167,167 | 12.38% |
| 1961 | 1,353,484 | 16.87% |
| 1972 | 2,428,678 | 16.45% |
| 1981 | 4,332,376 | 15.62% |
| 1998 | 6,565,885 | 23.89% |
| 2017 | 12,344,408 | 27.55% |
| 2023 | 14,894,402 | 30.96% |
Balochistan's population density is low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. In March 2012, preliminary census figures showed that the population of Balochistan, not including the districts of Khuzdar, Kech and Panjgur, had reached 13,162,222, an increase of 139.3% from 5,501,164 in 1998. The population constituted 6.85% of Pakistan's total population. This was the largest increase in population in any province of Pakistan during that time period, almost thrice the national increase of 46.9%.<ref name="POP">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=census1998>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2012Census1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Official estimates of Balochistan's population grew from approximately 7.45 million in 2003 to 7.8 million in 2005.<ref name=worldbankpop>Pakistan Balochistan Economic Report: From Periphery to Core (In Two Volumes) – Volume II: Full Report. Template:Webarchive The World Bank. May 2008. "The Balochistan population totalled 4.5 million in 1981/82 and 7.8 million in 2004/05..." "NIPS estimates that Balochistan's population growth will slow down to 1.3 percent by 2025..."</ref> The 2023 Census enumerated a population of 14,894,402.
Languages and ethnicitiesEdit
Template:Pie chart According to the preliminary results of the 2023 census, the languages with the most native speakers in the province are Balochi, spoken by 39.91% of the population (an increase of 4% compared to the 2017 census), and Pashto whose share is at 34.34%.<ref name="2023census" />
The Pashtuns mainly inhabit the north of Balochistan and form the majority in Quetta. Baloch on the other hand are found throughout Balochistan, but most highly concentrated in the west and south of the province.
Brahui is spoken by 17.22% mainly in the central part of Balochistan. Other languages include Sindhi (3.81%), Saraiki (2.19%), Punjabi (0.59%), Urdu (0.53%) and others at (1.5%).
Balochi forms the majority in 21 districts and Pashto forms majority in 9 districts of Balochistan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Brahui has majority in 4 districts. In the Lasbela, Hub districts and in Kachhi plain region a large minority of the population speaks Lasi and Siraiki,<ref name=brit>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> which are dialects of Sindhi.<ref>Cf. Template:Cite LSI and Template:Cite book</ref>
According to the Ethnologue, households speaking Balochi, whose primary dialect is Makrani constitutes 13%, Rukhshani 10%, Sulemani 7%, and Khetrani 3% of the population. Other languages spoken are Lasi, Urdu, Punjabi, Hazargi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dehvari, Dari, Tajik, Hindko, Uzbek, and Hindki.<ref name="yb2008">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The 2005 census concerning Afghans in Pakistan showed that a total of 769,268<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Afghan refugees were temporarily staying in Balochistan. However, there are probably fewer Afghans living in Balochistan today as many refugees repatriated in 2013. As of 2015, there are only 327,778 registered Afghan refugees according to the UNHCR.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReligionEdit
According to the 2017 Census, nearly all of the population of Balochistan were Muslims. There were also Hindu and Christian minorities in the province. The Hindu population in the province was approximately 49,133 (including the Scheduled Castes).<ref name=Census2017>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Census"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir which is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan is situated in Balochistan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There was also a Christian minority of 26,462 individuals in the province.<ref name="Census">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
.svg){kind=link}
EducationEdit
The literacy rate of the province in 2017 was 43.6%, an increase from 24.8% in 1998.
List of universitiesEdit
List of medical collegesEdit
EconomyEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The economy of Balochistan is largely based upon agriculture, livestock, fisheries, production of natural gas, coal and other minerals.<ref name="Ethnic Subnationalist Insurgencies in South Asia: Identities, Interests and Challenges to State Authority">Template:Cite book</ref>
Though agriculture and livestock play a dominant role in the provincial economy by contributing 47% of its GDP, it faced intense damages due to the 2022 Pakistan floods. The floods killed around 500,000 of Balochistan's livestock and damaged cultivation and agricultural output in 32 out of 35 districts of the province. The Lasbela district was the worst hit as the floods washed away fourt-fifth's of the homes, crops and livestock.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Due to the floods and severe drought conditions, the province faces food insecurity and is 85% dependent on the Sindh and Punjab provinces for the supply of wheat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Furthermore, with the exception of Quetta, Balochistan has been called a "neglected province where a majority of population lacks amenities".<ref name="dawn-22-3-12">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="kupecz" /> Although the province is rich in natural resources capable of uplifting its economy, most of them have not been fully utilised for the welfare of the population and are yet to be explored or developed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Since the mid-1970s, the province's contribution to Pakistan's GDP has dropped from 4.9 to 3.7%,<ref>Jetly, Rajsree. "Resurgence of the Baluch Movement in Pakistan: Emerging Perspectives and Challenges," in Jetly, Rajshree. ed. Pakistan in Regional and Global Politics (New York: Routledge, 2009): 215.</ref> and as of 2007 it had the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate, and the lowest literacy rate in comparison to other provinces,<ref>Baloch, Sanaullah. "The Baloch Conflict: Towards a Lasting Peace," Pakistan Security Research Unit, No. 7 (March 2007): 5–6.</ref> factors some allege have contributed to the insurgency.<ref name="kupecz">Template:Cite journal</ref> However, in seventh NFC awards, Punjab province and Federal contributed to increase Baluchistan share more than its entitled population based share.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Balochistan poverty is increasing. In 2001–2002 poverty incidences were at 48% and by 2005–2006 these were at 50.9%.<ref name="The Political Economy of Conflict in South Asia">Template:Cite book</ref> According to a report on Dawn, the rate of multidimensional poverty in Balochistan had risen to 71% by 2016.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Several major development projects, including the construction of a new deep sea port at the strategically important town of Gwadar,<ref name="pakboi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> are in progress in Balochistan. The port is projected to be the hub of an energy and trade corridor to and from China, Middle East and the Central Asian republics. The Mirani Dam on the Dasht River, Template:Convert west of Turbat in the Makran Division, is being built to provide water to expand agricultural land use by Template:Convert where it would otherwise be unsustainable.<ref name="mirani">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the district Lasbela, there is an oil refinery owned by Byco International Incorporated (BII), which is capable of processing 120,000 barrels of oil per day. A power station is located adjacent to the refinery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Several cement plants and a marble factory are also located there.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One of the world's largest ship breaking yards is located on the coast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Natural resource extractionEdit
Balochistan's share of Pakistan's national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 1972, Balochistan's gross income has grown in size by 2.7 times.<ref>Siterresources.worldbank.org Template:Webarchive</ref> Outside Quetta, the resource extraction infrastructure of the province is gradually developing but still lags far behind other parts of Pakistan.
The agreements for royalty rights and ownership of mineral rights were reached during a period of unprecedented natural disasters, economic, social, political, and cultural unrest in Pakistan. The negotiations were widely considered to be insufficiently transparent.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CultureEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
TourismEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Multiple issues
Following is a list of a few tourist attractions and places of interest in Balochistan: Template:Div col
- Astola Island
- Bolan Pass
- Dureji
- Gadani Beach
- Gadani Ship Breaking Yard
- Gwadar
- Hanna Lake
- Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, near Quetta.
- Hinglaj Mata Temples
- Hingol National Park
- Hub Dam
- Jiwani Coastal Wetland
- Khuzdar
- Kund Malir
- Makran Coastal Highway
- Mehrgarh
- Moola Chotok
- Pir Ghaib Waterfall
- Quaid-e-Azam Residency
- Quetta
- Princess of Hope
- Urak Valley
- Zhob
- Ziarat Juniper Forest
- Ziarat
CNIC CodesEdit
- Kalat Division (51XXX)
- Makran Division (52XXX)
- Nasirabad Division (53XXX)
- Quetta Division (54XXX)
- Sibi Division (55XXX)
- Zhob Division + Loralai Division (56XXX)
See alsoEdit
References and notesEdit
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
- Template:Cite book
- Philippe Fabry, Balouchistan, le désert insoumis (in French), Paris, Nathan Image, 1991, 136 p., Template:ISBN
External linksEdit
Template:Balochistan, Pakistan topics Template:Administrative units of Pakistan Template:Districts of Balochistan (Pakistan) Template:Pakistan topics Template:Authority control