Balochistan must get its fair share of the economic corridor. Pakistani authorities must ensure that CPEC doesnвЂ™t repeat the earlier injustice meted out to the native Balochs. Now BalochistanвЂ™s beneficial geography вЂ“ namely, Gwadar port вЂ“ might be used to enrich other provinces. Natural gas was discovered at Sui in Balochistan, yet major parts of the province are still deprived of natural gas. Worse, the division of CPEC benefits repeats a long-standing pattern where the people of Balochistan are not allowed to benefit from the provinceвЂ™s own advantages. Yet with all the talk of CPEC being a game-changer for the country, the Balochs are still left waiting on the sidelines. These appalling statistics cut a sorry figure. Added to this, thereвЂ™s an acute water shortage. Almost 15 percent of the people of Balochistan suffer from Hepatitis B or C.

The maternal death rate in Pakistan is 278 per 100,000, whereas in Balochistan it stands at 785 out of every 100,000. In Balochistan, there are about 1.8 million children not attending school, which is perhaps related to the fact that more than 5,000 public schools in the region consist of nothing more than a single room.

The metrics paint a dire picture for its residents: 70 percent of people in Balochistan live in poverty. But what does this mean for the impoverished province of Balochistan? After all, despite being home to Gwadar port, the crown jewel of CPEC, the provinceвЂ™s share in the CPEC bounty is a mere 0.5 percent.Д«alochistan is undoubtedly in need of an economic lifeline. Trade through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has partially begun, further upping the excitement surrounding the $50 billion megaproject. PakistanвЂ™s economic resurgence seems to be looming large.

R insurgency