Balochistan, the largest and least populated province in Pakistan, has long been stuck in a web of socioeconomic issues hindering development. Despite an abundance of natural resources, the province is among the poorest in the country. Decades of neglect, along with low-level insurgency and alleged human rights violations, have left the region impoverished, unemployed, and underdeveloped. The Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) hopes to trigger a long-term solution to the region's problems.

The Strategic Importance of Balochistan

Balochistan is of key geographical and economic significance. It is at the center of Pakistan's economic growth initiatives, notably the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, decades of neglect and instability have limited the region's potential. Local frustrations over a lack of access to the province's resources have fueled a separatist movement that destabilizes the region with repeated militant attacks. Addressing these difficulties is critical not just to Balochistan's prosperity, but also to Pakistan's overall stability and success.

A Vision for Sustainable Development

The Green Pakistan Initiative, established in 2023, intends to revolutionize the resilience and sustainability of agriculture in Pakistan, with a specific emphasis on Balochistan. By converting unused land into cultivable fields, increasing job opportunities, and encouraging sustainable farming methods, the project will address the underlying causes of poverty and piecemeal development in the region.

The first phase of the project involved the installation of 40 solar tube wells that irrigated 800 hectares of land in Balochistan. With the successful growth of wheat and watermelon, this represented a step towards altering the province's arid agricultural environment. The second phase broadened the initiative's scope by installing 83 more solar tube wells to sustain 1,660 hectares of land. The positive reaction from local communities who recognized the possibility for substantial and long-term change expanded the project's reach further.

Empowering Local Communities

The Green Pakistan Initiative is more than agricultural development; it aims to empower Balochistan's local population. The project intends to turn farmers into active participants in the province's growth by providing cheap financing, seedlings, fertilizers, solar tube wells, and professional assistance. This approach empowers Baloch people, who have frequently felt excluded from the province's natural resources and subject to discrimination.

The project has already had a significant influence on the livelihoods of local farmers. Over 110 households have benefited from the project's first and second phases, with many more set to benefit as it expands. Farmers who previously struggled to cultivate their grounds owing to a lack of resources may now produce crops and sustain their families. Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) provided fertilizers, land levelling, and other public services that have increased the project's impact, producing a positive ripple effect across the region.

Addressing the Challenges of Agriculture in Pakistan

Pakistan's agricultural industry faces various obstacles including rapid population growth, a lack of foreign direct investment, antiquated farming practices, and inadequate irrigation infrastructure. These longstanding issues have a detrimental impact on Pakistan’s economy, with 37% of the workforce in the agricultural sector. The Green Pakistan Initiative aims to tackle these difficulties fully by introducing modern agricultural methods, improving water management, and harnessing technology to boost output.

In Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran and Khudzar, agricultural malls have been constructed. These facilities give local farmers access to fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, technical assistance, and machinery rentals. The employment of drone technology and spray equipment will modernize farming operations in the region, increasing efficiency and sustainability.

The Role of the Pakistan Army

The engagement of the Pakistan Army in the Green Pakistan Initiative has been critical to its success. Under General Asim Munir's direction, the Army provided logistical, security, and implementation support. The Army's support of the initiative shows its greater involvement in Pakistan's socioeconomic growth, going beyond its conventional security responsibility.

The Army's initiatives in Balochistan, such as the Green Pakistan Initiative, are part of a larger plan to bring the province into the national mainstream. By tackling the core causes of conflict and underdevelopment, the Army hopes to build a more stable and prosperous Pakistan. This strategy is seen in other province-wide efforts in infrastructure, education, and healthcare development.

The Future of the Green Pakistan Initiative

The Green Pakistan Initiative is a long-term effort that intends to improve not just Balochistan's agricultural environment, but also the province's socioeconomic fabric. By 2027, the initiative aims to empower 1,500 families and deliver economic growth to a historically marginalized region. The project's success will be dependent on ongoing support from an array of stakeholders including the government, the Army, and residents.

If successful, the Green Pakistan Initiative has potential to serve as a model for other Pakistani regions, particularly those dealing with comparable poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment issues. By applying the core principles of the project's success in Balochistan to other regions, Pakistan may achieve wider national objectives such as food security, economic growth, and social stability.

Conclusion

The Green Pakistan Initiative is a creative and imaginative approach to tackle Balochistan's complicated difficulties. By focusing on sustainable agricultural development, the initiative provides a way ahead for an area plagued by poverty and conflict. The Pakistan Army, led by General Asim Munir, has played a critical role in moving the program ahead and guaranteeing its success.

For the people of Balochistan, the Green Pakistan Initiative represents the promise of a brighter future. As the program expands, it can alter the lives of families, offer new economic  possibilities, and pave the road for long-term peace and prosperity throughout the region and even across the nation.

Waleed Sami is a postgraduate student of Strategic Studies from the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS), a school of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. Waleed completed his bachelor's from the National Defence University Islamabad (NDU) in International Relations.