Geography of Balochistan
Balochistan is situated in the western most of Pakistan and it has an area of 347,190 square kilometres. It is Pakistan's largest province by area constituting 44% of Pakistan's total land mass. The province is bordered by Afghanistan to the North and northwest, Iran to the southwest, Punjab and Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federally administered Tribal areas to the northeast, and the Arabian sea. Balochistan is located at the eastern edge of the Iranian plateau and in the difficult-to-define border region between Southwest, central, and South Asia. It is geographically the largest of the four provinces. The population density is very low due to the mountainous terrain and scarcity of water. The southern region is known as Makran. A region in the centre of the province is known as Kalat.
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| Strategic Significance of Balochistan |
The Sulaiman Mountains dominate the northeast corner and the Bolan Pass is a natural route into Afghanistan, towards Kandahar. Much of the province south of Quetta region is sparse desert terrain with pockets of inhabitable towns mostly near rivers and streams. The capital city is Quetta located in the most densely populated district in the northeast of the province, Quetta is situated in a river valley near the border with Afghanistan with a road to Kandahar in the northwest.
At Gwadar on the coast, the Pakistani government is currently undertaking a large project with Chinese help to build a large port. This is being done partially to provide the Pakistan Navy with another base and to reduce Pakistan's reliance on Karachi and Port Qasim which are currently the only major ports.
The Land of Balochistan
Balochistan the largest of the four provinces of Pakistan spreads over an area of 347,190 square Kilometers forming 43.6 percent of the total area of Pakistan. It has a clustered population and is the smallest in proportion as compared to that of other provinces. Its population is according to the 1998 census.
The Highlands include Makran, Kharan, and Chaghai ranges in the West and Suliman mountains, Kirther in the east. The Upper Highlands fail mainly in districts Zhob, Killa Saifullah, Pashin, Quetta, Ziarat, and Kalat. It comprises several ranges such as Suliman, Toba Kakari, Murdar, Zarghoon, Takatu, and Chiltan ranges.
Physical features
Balochistan's political boundaries widely vary from its physical frontiers. Physically it encompasses a large chunk of Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan.
Roughly they comprise:
- Talar-e-Band or Makran Coast Range
- The Central Makran Range
- The Siahan Range (bordering Kharan)
- The Ras Koh (skirting Chagai) on the Afghan border
Resources of Balochistan
Balochistan possesses great unexplored potential for metallic and nonmetallic minerals. The least populated areas of the province contain copper, uranium, gold, coal, silver, and platinum deposits. In addition, it is producing about 36% of Pakistan's total gas production. Large deposits of natural gas, oil, and minerals are present in the mountains and deserts of Balochistan.
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| Resources of Balochistan |
Its coastal line with the Arabian Sea and a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia increased its importance as Central Asian countries are also rich in natural gas and oil. Presently the minerals being exploited are:
Coal
Balochistan coal can cater to the existing and future energy requirements of our country to a great extent. More than 90% of coal is dispatched to other provinces for use in brick kilns.
Chromite
Sizeable deposits of this mineral are found at Muslimbagh, district Killa Saifullah, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, and Chaghi districts have chromite reserves. The private sector has been engaged in mining this mineral.
Barytes
The biggest deposit of barytes is located near Khuzdar with a total of over 200 million tonnes. Scientific mining as well as grinding of this mineral started in 1976. Almost the entire production of barites is consumed locally by OGDC and other oil drilling companies.
Sulfur
Sulfur deposits are available at Koh-e-Sultan in district Chaghi. Three main deposits are clustered around the Southern half of the extinct volcano, Koh-e-Sultan. The deposits are of fumarole origin and native Sulphur is found in cracks and as impregnation in volcanic tuffs. The Chief use of Sulphur is the manufacturing of Sulphuric acid.
Marble
Large commercially exploitable deposits are found throughout district Chaghi, starting from Dalbandin and extending to the borders of Iran. Some deposits are located close to Pak-Afghan border areas namely Zardkan, Siah-chang, Jhuli, Patkok, Maskichah, Zeh chilsazi, and Buttak, Onyx a dark green marble found in Chaghi is of superior quality. Onyx of good quality is found in Bolan, Lasbela, and Khuzdar districts.
Iron Ore
Chaghi a mineral-rich area possesses nearly 30 million tones of iron ore, Geological Survey of Pakistan, in a report, states that there are 1 to 7 meters thick hematitic sedimentary iron stone beds of Jurassic age ( 150 million years old) at the contact of Chiltan Limestone and Sember formation of Cretaceous age ( 150-65 million years old) near Johan in Dilband area of Mastung district. The reserves have been tentatively estimated at over 200 million tonnes.
Quartzite
This is a relatively newly discovered mineral. Its deposits are found in the Lesbela district.
Limestone
Limestone exists in abundance in different parts of Balochistan. Several hundred meters thick layers of limestone at places dolomitic occur in the Chiltan Formation of Jurassic age in Quetta and Kalat, Limestone in the Cretaceous age is 300 to 50 meters thick and is widely found in Balochistan. Harnai, Sor range, and Spintangi areas have reserves of limestone.
Geo-Political and Strategic Importance
Balochistan possesses great unexplored potential for metallic and non-metallic minerals presently the minerals being exploited are located on the southeastern part of the Iranian plateau. It borders the geopolitical regions of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. Balochistan lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz and provides the shortest route from seaports to Central Asia. its geopolitical location has placed the otherwise desolate region in the scopes of competing global interests like Afghanistan for all of recorded history. The capital city Quetta is located in a densely populated portion of the Suleman Mountains in the northeast of the province. it is situated in a river valley near the Bolan Pass which has been used as a route of Choice from the coast to central Asia entering through Afghanistan's Kandahar region. The British and other historic empires crossed the region to invade Afghanistan by this route. A place could be strategically important for different reasons:
- Owing nearness to the strategic locations, such as choke points on the major sea route
- On the crossroads of great powers
- Immediacy to mineral-rich areas
- Maybe a reservoir of strategic minerals like oil, Iron, Uranium, Ores, etc
- Large dealer of food.
The great powers always design striking strategies and plans and to accomplish their policies, they use small powers, sometimes for a solo role and at times for numerous ones.
Strategically Balochistan is unique in terms of the following factors which are crucial in its strategic calculations:
- Having the largest coastline.
- Sensitive borders
- Arm of Arabian Sea.
- Lying under the lines of Machkinder's rimland, Western and North Eastern.
placed extremely next to the oil lanes of the Persian Gulf and covering the border with Iran and Afghanistan. Balochistan is strategically too significant, commanding almost the entire coast of the country 740 miles of the Arabian Sea, and boasting of a deep sea port completed with Chinese Support at Gwadar, Balochistan.
The following factors have made Balochistan strategically very valuable.
Gwadar Sea Port:
Gwadar is an important district of Balochistan, having 600 kilometres long border. Until 1958 it had been a part of the State of Oman. In December 1958, Pakistan bought it for the amount of 550 million rupees. It was suggested as a suitable site for port in 1964 and thus in 2002. The construction of the port was initiated with the help of China. The Gwadar port is the third largest port in the world. It is situated at the doorway of the Persian Gulf and is the largest trade route in the world. Central Asian Republics has added to its value as it will provide the shortest route to central Asia. America has an eye on Gwadar as being its future Potential Military base and U.A.E considers it an undesirable contest. The potential of Gwadar is not new but the Geo-economics of today and even tomorrow have converted a potential treasure into an international treasure.
Rickodek Gold mines in Chagi
Rickodek the part of Chagi, Balochistan means Hillock of Gold. Pakistan and international media have highlighted a new discussion on Reickkodek. It is the world's 4th largest deposit of gold and copper. It has dawned that the mountains of Balochistan are filled with costly reservoirs of minerals. The gold and copper reserves of about $260 billion are buried under the Rickodek.
Foreign Involvement
- The international colonial powers opened the stage of hostilities against Afghanistan and Iran by exploiting Balochistan. Taking hostage and Target killing of Chinese engineers, workers and investors are interrelated to it. The international players have raised issues like:
- Durand Line.
- Pashtunistan ( Pashtun areas of Balochistan)
- Economic and financial aid in the name of Terrorism
- Watchwords of ' Greater Balochistan'
- Encouraging rebellious movements.
- Drone Attacks by Making Allegations about 'Quetta Shura' Balochistan
Balochistan Population 2022
A rapidly growing population in Balochistan but the population density is low due to the mountains and scarcity of water. The population of Balochistan is 12.34 million. 5.9 per cent of the total Pakistan population.
