Syed Muhammad Qaseem:
The year 2024 proved to be a tumultuous one for Balochistan, with hundreds of civilians and law enforcement personnel falling victim to terrorism, crime, and governance issues. Bomb blasts, target killings, kidnappings, and highway blockades severely impacted daily life, while the provincial government grappled with mounting challenges to maintain law and order.
Security Challenges and Rising Crime
Incidents of terrorism and crime had a far-reaching negative impact on the lives of Balochistan’s residents. The year saw 83 IED explosions, 91 landmine blasts, 114 hand grenade attacks, and 81 target killings. Kidnapping for ransom, robberies, and sabotage remained rampant, with 13,589 cases registered in total.
National highways, particularly the Quetta-Karachi Highway, became increasingly unsafe due to repeated attacks, robberies, and kidnappings. Blockades on this critical route left passengers stranded for hours, with women, children, patients, and the elderly being the worst affected.
The worsening security situation was a major topic of debate in the Balochistan Assembly. Opposition members criticized the government’s failure to ensure safety, but Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti attributed the unrest to “foreign hands” allegedly fueling the province’s low-scale insurgency, which has persisted for over two decades.
Governance Highlights
Despite security challenges, the Balochistan government made significant efforts to improve education and health. The launch of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program for students marked a milestone in supporting education. For the first time, thousands of teachers were recruited on a contract basis, leading to the reopening of several previously closed ghost schools across the province.
In the healthcare sector, the government worked to enhance facilities at public hospitals. However, these efforts faced resistance from the Young Doctors Association, which criticized the government’s approach and called for reforms.
A Mixed Outlook
While the year 2024 highlighted the resilience of the Balochistan government in tackling education and health challenges, the persistent security issues and rising crime painted a grim picture. The province’s law and order situation remains a critical challenge, requiring robust measures to restore peace and ensure the safety of its citizens.
