Geography and Climate
– Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land area.
– It is located in the southwestern region of the country.
– It shares borders with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh provinces of Pakistan.
– It also shares international borders with Iran and Afghanistan.
– The Arabian Sea bounds Balochistan to the south.
– Balochistan covers an area of 347,190 square kilometers, constituting 44% of the total landmass of Pakistan.
– The province is located on the southeastern part of the Iranian plateau and lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.
– Balochistan has a dry desert climate, with only 5% of the land being arable.
– The upper highlands have very cold winters and hot summers.
– Winters vary from extremely cold in northern districts 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 desert climate is characterized by hot and very arid conditions.
Economy and Development
– Agriculture and livestock contribute about 47% to Balochistan’s economy.
– Natural resources, especially natural gas fields, dominate the economy.
– The Port of Gwadar, located in Balochistan, is the world’s largest deep-sea port.
– Gwadar is emerging as a future business hub.
– Balochistan contributed 5.33% to the national economy in 2022, amounting to $80 billion (PPP) and $20 billion (nominal).
– Balochistan’s GDP is reported in the GDP of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts.
– The province has rich natural resources that have not been fully utilized for the welfare of the population.
– Balochistan’s share of Pakistan’s national income has historically ranged between 3.7% to 4.9%.
– The resource extraction infrastructure in Balochistan lags behind other parts of Pakistan.
– Balochistan has been called a neglected province, with a lack of amenities for the majority of the population.
– The province has the highest poverty rate and infant and maternal mortality rate, and the lowest literacy rate among the provinces.
– The rate of multidimensional poverty in Balochistan rose to 71% by 2016.
– The development of Gwadar has attracted national and international attention.
– Gwadar’s strategic location and deep-sea port have led to its economic importance.
– Gwadar has the potential to become a major economic center in Pakistan.
History and Colonial Era
– Balochistan was part of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
– It was ruled by the Paratarajas and Kushans at different times.
– The Sewa Dynasty, primarily based in Kalat, ruled parts of Balochistan.
– The Brahui people, a Dravidian-speaking group, were the earliest inhabitants.
– The Baloch people migrated to the region in the 14th century CE.
– In 654, the Rashidun caliphate conquered parts of Balochistan.
– Islamic armies pushed north, conquering Kabul and Ghazni.
– The well-defended mountain town of QaiQan remained outside Muslim control.
– A revolt broke out in southern Balochistan during the caliphate of Ali.
– Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I lost control of north-eastern Balochistan and Kalat due to a revolt.
– Balochistan became a part of British India in 1876.
– Princely states like Makran, Kharan, Las Bela, and Kalat were recognized.
– The Treaty of Kalat brought these princely states under British protection.
– British control expanded with the acquisition of Quetta, Pishin, Harnai, Sibi, and Thal Chotiali.
– The Durand Line was established as the boundary between Afghanistan and British-controlled areas.
Government and Administration
– Balochistan has a parliamentary form of government.
– The Governor is the ceremonial head of the province, appointed by the President of Pakistan.
– The Chief Minister is the leader of the largest political party or alliance in the provincial assembly.
– The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats, with reserved seats for women and non-Muslims.
– The Balochistan High Court is based in Quetta and headed by a Chief Justice.
– Balochistan is divided into seven divisions: Kalat, Makran, Nasirabad, Quetta, Sibi, Zhob, and Rakhshan.
– Each division is under an appointed commissioner.
– The divisions are further subdivided into 36 districts.
– Loralai Division was created by bifurcating Zhob Division.
Languages, Ethnicities, and Religion
– Balochi is spoken by 35.49% of the population in Balochistan.
– Pashto is spoken by 35.34% of the population.
– Brahui is spoken by 17.12% of the population.
– Sindhi is spoken by 4.56% of the population.
– Saraiki is spoken by 2.65% of the population.
– The majority of the population in Balochistan is Muslim.
– There is a Hindu minority in the province, with approximately 49,133 individuals.
– There is also a Christian minority of 26,462 individuals.
– The largest Hindu pilgrimage center in Pakistan, Shri Hinglaj Mata mandir, is located in Balochistan. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochistan,_Pakistan
Balochistan (/bəˈlɒtʃɪstɑːn, bəˌlɒtʃɪˈstɑːn, -stæn/; Balochi: بلۏچستان[citation needed]; Urdu: بلوچستان,Urdu pronunciation: [bəloːt͡ʃɪst̪ɑːn] ⓘ) 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 the world's largest deep sea port, the Port of Gwadar lying in the Arabian Sea.
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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. Despite this, agriculture and livestock make up about 47% of Balochistan's economy.
The name "Balochistan" means "the land of the Baloch". 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.
