Islamabad: As part of its campaign to highlight socio-political and economic issues of the poorest and volatile southwestern Balochistan province, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) organised a public seminar titled ‘Potential of Natural Resources and the Politics of Agreements in Balochistan’ on October 20th. It was the latest inthe series of public advocacy on BalochistanRights’ Package. Prominent TV anchor Dr.Moeed Peerzada moderated the event, which was attended by inter alia by the federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Baloch leaders Mir Hasil Bizenjo and Dr.Ishaq Baloch.
Delineating upon the bounty of natural resources and nature of different mining and exploration agreements, most speakersagreedthat solution to the competing interests of all the stakeholders in Balochistan development is key to unleash the natural resources– potential of the province.
The minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said that Pakistanis should either we should trust foreign investors or wait for generations until the country develops indigenous expertise exploit the vast natural resources, federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar warned Thursday.
The minister issued this warning at a public seminar titled ‘Potential of Natural Resources and the Politics of Agreements in Balochistan’, organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
Mr.Qamar acknowledged the existence of ‘deeply embedded mistrust among foreign investors, federal government and provincial government,’ and said until this mistrust is removed it would be very difficult to exploit the wealth of natural resources. As of now Pakistan cannot do this on its own and thus required foreign services and state of the art technology.’Historically we have not been in good terms with foreign investors on our land, and consequently this mistrust has also held back development.’
The Minister made clear that we have two options right now: ‘Either we should trust the foreign investors or wait for generations until we develop indigenous expertise and technology to exploit our natural resources’.
‘Rationally we should not shy away from asking foreign investors and experts to develop our natural resources for us’, he underscored.
Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Senior Vice President of National Party Balochistan, said the rulers of Pakistan sitting in Islamabad believe that they are the owners of natural wealth in the country and this thinking on the part of few people have made Pakistan bleed for last 64 years. He observed there is no law and order issue in Balochistan mining areas. He further emphasized that “if even there is law and order situation across Balochistan today, then what about the last 60 years?” He proposed that federal government should leave the issue of natural resources– exploration and development to the provincial government and it can better take of it. ‘It is very strange that Pakistani government is over-relying over Chinese, and consequently Chinese believe now that development of natural resources in Pakistan is their right’, he exclaimed. Moreover, Dr Ishaq Baloch, Central Vice President of National Party Balochistan said that solution to long held grievances of Baloch people is crucial to repose the confidence of Baloch people in the federation of Pakistan. ‘It is a pity that former President Parvez Musharraf handed over the Saindak project to Chinese and did not care for the Baloch sacrifices, which the latter rendered for its development in 1970s’, he bewailed.
Dr Shaukat Hameed,Executive Director of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (SOPREST), the parent body of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI), noted that according to a German mining firm estimate, five out 14 mega mining projects are located in Balochistan. ‘Unfortunately Pakistan is among the very few states of the world where mining rights are not clearly defined’, he lamented. He proposed that Pakistan government should formulate a national mining policy in order to better govern the mining activities in the country. Professor Dr Saifulislam Saif said university-industry cooperation is very crucial for exploitation of natural resources and regrettably Pakistan has no such mechanism. ‘Pakistan as a state has failed to develop and manage its natural resources– potential’, he observed.
Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, former deputy speaker national assembly said that Pakistan is crumbling just because it failed miserably to harness its human resource potential. ‘There is no natural resource exploitation without human resource development’, he underlined. Referring to Balochistan, he said all kinds of worst human development indicators can be found in the province. He further said that Balochistan government should be more assertive and play more effective role to utilize resources seized as a result of 18^th amendment and Balochistan Rights– Package. Dr Moeed Pirzada, who also moderated the seminar, the importance of more robust look into the exact nature and terms of agreements singed by the government of Pakistan with foreign investors, presently immersed in mining activities in Baluchistan. He observed that there is need to further dig through the technical and legal aspects of these agreements in order to know the other side of the picture.
Samia Ali, the spokesperson for Tethayan Copper Company (TCC) clarified the point that contrary to the recent media reports, according to the terms of agreement for the Reko Deq reservoirs, TCC, is getting only 48 per cent of the total income share while 52 per cent goes to the federal and provincial governments.
Overall the participants were of the view that federal government should not take lead to negotiate and implement the mining agreements in Balochistan on behalf of the Balochistan government. They also underscored the importance of more people-centric approach while exploiting natural resources in Balochistan, so that the local people could also become part and beneficiary of the domestic and foreign investments.