Ample investment prospects in Balochistan.

Byline: Syed Fazl-E-Haider

Constituting 44 percent of the country's total landmass, Balochistan still remains underdeveloped province. It is rich in natural resources. It is strategically located on the confluence of South, west and Central Asia. The province presents wider prospects for local and international investments. There are greater investment opportunities in all sectors of provincial economy. First of all, the provincial government led by chief minister Jam Kamal needs to improve security situation in the province, as the killing of 11 coal miners belonging to Hazara community on January 3, 2021 in Bolan district does not send good message to the prospective foreign investors eying Balochistan.

The government needs to create an environment through announcement of attractive incentives for seeking foreign investment particularly in horticulture, livestock, fisheries and mining. It needs foreign and local investment to develop its economic sectors. The businessmen hesitate to invest due to the lack of development infrastructure and law and order problem in the province.

For its huge mineral endowments, the province is known as museum of minerals. There is a lot of potential for development in the livestock and dairy sectors, as the province can earn a substantial amount of income by exporting the products in these sectors to the lucrative markets in the food deficit region - Afghanistan and Central Asia. It has tremendous potential for development of horticulture, particularly the fruit farms. The land along coastal belt has enormous potential for development of shrimp farming and processing projects, which can play a vital role in fisheries development in the province.

As a regional hub of business, trade and commercial activity, Gwadar port would provide a solid base for the economic progress of the province. Gwadar as regional trade hub will open the doors for development of small, medium and large scale industries generating revenue for the government and providing profitable avenues for both the skilled and non-skilled workforce in Balochistan. The potential investment areas in Gwadar include fish processing, crabs processing, cold storage, ice factories, sea-water reverse osmosis desalination plants, shrimp farming, boat building and naval architecture institute, oil storage tankers, ferry service for Karachi Ormara-Pasni-Gwadar and up to Oman and Dubai.

Balochistan makes up 70 percent of Pakistan's total coastal belt...