Poverty Alleviation: Balochistan stands in need of ample planning.

• Author: Fazl-E-Haider, Syed

Byline: Syed Fazl-E-Haider

Balochistan is the most poor and least developed province of Pakistan. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) uses a broader concept of poverty than income and wealth alone. It reflects the deprivations people experience with respect to health, education and standard of living, and is thus a more detailed way of understanding and alleviating poverty.

In 2016, the country's first ever official report on multidimensional poverty was launched by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform. The report was compiled with technical support from UNDP Pakistan and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford. According to the report, nearly 39 percent of Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty, with the highest rates of poverty in Balochistan. Disparities also exist across provinces. The report found that 71 percent people in Balochistan live in multidimensional poverty.

Balochistan needs a comprehensive poverty alleviation strategy that needs to be implemented with political will. The province possesses enormous potential in all sectors of development and need is to tap this potential to reduce poverty level in the province.

Agriculture and livestock

Agriculture and livestock development on modern lines can reduce the prevailing poverty at drastic level because 75% of the province's population lives in rural areas and associated directly or indirectly with agriculture and livestock. Bulk of population heavily relies on agricultural goods and services for their livelihood. Similarly, the livestock development can alleviate poverty in the province, as livestock is the primary sustainable source of living for over 70 percent of local population. The province is rich in livestock resources contributing about 40 percent of Pakistan's total livestock population. The main consumers of its livestock include leather, carpet and pharmaceutical industries. The province caters to the needs and demands of leather and carpet industries by sustaining the supply of Hyde and wool to these sectors.

Livestock contributes Rs. 20 billion with share of meat 40%, milk 35%, eggs 13%, skin, hides and wool 10% and others 2%. The province annually produces 28000 tons of beef and 204,000 tons of mutton. Ironically, the provincial government allocates a nominal amount for the development of this sector,

A marked improvement in agriculture can make the province self-sufficient in food.

The main problem...