Shah Meer
This article presents the essence of a research paper written by the author.
Income Inequality in Balochistan has widespread implications for the social fabric and economic development of the province. It jeopardizes social cohesiveness and national unity by leaving the populace vulnerable to misleading narratives in a volatile place like Balochistan. Income inequality is a highly ignored issue in Balochistan. Past Studies have mainly focused on the disparities between Balochistan and other provinces of Pakistan or used income-based metrics such as Gini Coefficient to measure the gap between haves and have-nots.
In addition, no study has examined the structural causes of disparities in Balochistan and offered workable solutions for their mitigation using a strong regression model backed by pertinent theoretical frameworks. The non-income factors that include broader social, political, and economic factors have been left widely ignored. By focusing on the non-income variables of income inequality, this study explores the reasons for income disparity in Balochistan and provides recommendations for its mitigation.
History shows that stratification has been inescapable and omnipresent in all societies. It is one of the key ideas in the study of social thought that although some people continue to be severely impoverished, others benefit enormously from it. Every society has a different system of social stratification. Sometimes society was divided along caste or slavery lines, while other times it was divided along estate lines. As a result, research on social stratification has been around since antiquity and has changed over time. However, the most cited work on stratification was presented by Max Weber.
Class, social standing, and party were the three pillars upon which he built his thesis on stratification. Building on Max Weber’s Theory of Stratification which delineates multifaceted reasons for disparities in a society, the study asked 200 individuals from across Balochistan selected through Simple Random Sampling following a well-structured questionnaire consisting of six variables such as Land Inequality, Digital Divide, Unbalanced Employment Structure, Educational Disparities, Urbanization and Inefficient Economic Policies, and its data was analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to identify patterns and correlations.
The study found that most respondents (55%) think that the main cause of income disparity is land inequality, 42.5% point to the digital gap, and 40% blame the uneven job structure. Likewise, 39% mentioned inequalities in education, 37.5% said ineffective economic policies, and 30% mentioned urbanization. As the data reveals that economic disparities in Balochistan are multifaceted, it requires a coherent strategy for its mitigation.
The study proposes Human Capital Theory as the strategy to address income disparities in Balochistan. Basically, Human Capital Theory assumes that the advancements in fundamental science, technology, business management, education, and training that support production are all considered to be part of society’s intangible capital. These advancements can be the consequence of intentional individual or group investments for financial gain or unintended byproducts of attempts to accomplish other objectives.
First, the main idea of the study for the mitigation of income disparities as said before pivots around the concept of investment in human capital: its knowledge, education, skills, and digital awareness. The idea also encompasses that for ensuring these dexterities improvements in basic science, technology, business administration, and education and training are needed to enable laborers to attain them. These skills can push people for upward economic mobility. It is also important to integrate Madrasa students into the mainstream economic activities in Balochistan.
The province has 506 licensed madrasas and 3004 unregistered madrasas, with about 1 million youngsters enrolled. The number of madrasas is growing annually, according to the Directorate General of Religious Education. They only learn religious matters in school, and there is no official system in place to give them skills that will enable them to earn reasonably. After graduating from madrasa, individuals can choose to work as a teacher in a madrasa or as an imam in a mosque because they lack the necessary abilities and dexterity. They make relatively little money in both situations.
Second, Balochistan’s land distribution has been skewed in favor of a small elite, with large landholdings concentrated in the hands of tribal chiefs, feudal lords, and a select few powerful families. Due to their reliance on small, dispersed land parcels or labor without property, the great majority of people, especially in rural areas, have had little access to economic mobility. A cycle of poverty and social injustice has been sustained by this unfair land distribution. By redistributing land, the state can reduce wealth inequality and increase the economic agency of marginalized communities.
Third, the lack of on-the-job training and capacity building of the existing laborers or employees is another issue that stagnates their economic growth. The chances of upward economic mobility in such conditions become so modest. Compared to corporate services where the chances of exposure are satisfactory, unregulated businesses and government sector jobs provide very meager opportunities for on-the-job training in Balochistan. This area also needs much focus.
Fourth, along with technical skills, the upgradation of soft skills of the laborers and employees is also significant. These skills include communication and leadership skills, teamwork and collaboration, adaptability and resilience, problem-solving, time management, conflict resolution, tolerance, and creativity and innovation. The biggest benefit of these issues is that they curtail innovation and creativity and prevail in a hostile and competitive environment.
Fifth, rural-urban disparities also need attention. The major chunk of the population of Balochistan lives in rural areas where basic amenities, needed infrastructure, and opportunities for economic growth are very meager compared to urban centers where these facilities are in functional form. As a result, the people in urban areas are economically more stable. To reduce this gap, the government must invest in rural infrastructure in the shape of constructing schools, initiating vocational training centers, and introducing reforms in the agriculture sector. It is also needed that the government diversify sources of earnings in rural areas in the shape of E-commerce and other digital platforms.
Sixth, in the digital realm, it is crucial to expand digital infrastructure and access, improve digital skills, create e-governance services, encourage digital transformation, and protect cybersecurity and rights. On these six principles, the Balochistan Government declared the Balochistan Digital Policy (2021). However, after 2021 till date the policy existed in letter not in spirit, and has not been renewed.
Such initiatives are important for the mitigation of disparities as they equip people with more relevant skills that can bring reasonable wages and increase delivery and services. To conclude, the increasing income disparity demands significant attention from the pertinent parties in a volatile region such as Balochistan. The increasing inequalities in the province are concerning and detrimental to regional development. It might further obstruct national development and progress and leave the populace open to misleading narratives.
Land inequalities, the digital divide among Balochistan citizens, educational disparities, an uneven employment structure, growing urbanization, and extremely inefficient economic policies that cause chaos in the province’s economic structure are the most significant and frequently disregarded non-income factors that contribute to the disparities. Therefore, the study advocates the implementation of targeted intervention by the authorities primarily focusing on the development of human capital. Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz rightly puts it, “Development without equity is not sustainable. Inequality is not only a barrier to economic growth but also a source of social instability.”
The author is a Research Assistant at the Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) and a graduate of International Relations from the University of Balochistan.
