1.
Balochistan
Balochistan
Conservation
Strategy

2.
The designation of geographical entities in this book, and
the presentation of the material, do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN
concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or
area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of
its frontiers or boundaries.
Published by:
IUCN Pakistan and Government of Balochistan.
Copyright:
© 2000 International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources, Pakistan and Government of
Balochistan.
The Balochistan Conservation Strategy was prepared by
the Government of Balochistan (Planning and Development
Department) in collaboration with IUCN-The World
Conservation Union.
It was supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation
of this publication for educational or other non-commercial
purposes is authorized without prior written permission
from IUCN Pakistan, provided the source is fully
acknowledged.
Reproduction of this publication for resale or other
commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
permission from IUCN Pakistan.
The contents and the opinions expressed do not constitute
an endorsement by the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
Citation:
Government of Balochistan and IUCN Pakistan (2000).
IUCN Pakistan and GoB,
Karachi, Pakistan. xxxii + 354 pp.
ISBN:
969-8141-33-2
Designed by:
Creative Unit (Pvt) Ltd.
Photos:
Cover: Nadeem A. Khan
Back cover: Shuja Zaidi, Nadeem A. Khan
Printed by:
Hamdard Printing Press (Pvt) Ltd.
Available from:
IUCN Pakistan
1 Bath Island Road, Karachi 75530, Pakistan.

3.
Balochistan
Balochistan
Conservation
Strategy

4.
Acronyms and Abbreviations iv
Glossary vi
Preface viii
Acknowledgements x
Executive Summary xiv
PART I BACKGROUND
Chapter 1 Rationale and Process 4
Chapter 2 BCS Framework 14
PART II THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE BCS
Chapter 3 Land 24
Chapter 4 Freshwater Resources 48
Chapter 5 Biodiversity 74
Chapter 6 Coastal Zone 96
Chapter 7 Atmosphere 114
Chapter 8 Minerals, Mining and Energy 122
Chapter 9 Sustainable Industrial Development 138
Chapter 10 Urban Environment 148
Chapter 11 Environmental Health 166
Chapter 12 Population, Poverty and Environment 174
Chapter 13 Cultural Heritage 188
Chapter 14 Governance, Institutions and Capacity 200
Chapter 15 Non-Governmental Organizations 214
Chapter 16 Gender, Development and Environment 224
Chapter 17 Information Management 232
Chapter 18 Environmental Communication and Education 242
PART III IMPLEMENTATION
Chapter 19 Implementation Framework 252
Chapter 20 BCS Core Programmes 260
Chapter 21 Implementation: Roles and Responsibilities 270
Chapter 22 Resource Mobilization for the BCS 292
Chapter 23 Monitoring Implementation and Assessing Sustainability 306
Appendices 312
Maps 332
Bibliography 346
Contents

5.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy v
Acronyms and
Abbreviations
ADB Asian Development Bank
ADPB Area Development Programme Balochistan
AZRC Arid Zone Research Centre
BAP Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan
BCC&I Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
BCIAP Balochistan Community Irrigation and Agriculture
Project
BCS Balochistan Conservation Strategy
BDA Balochistan Development Authority
BIDA Balochistan Irrigation and Drainage Authority
BMIADP Balochistan Minor Irrigation and Agriculture
Development Project
BNRMP Balochistan Natural Resource Management Project
BoS Bureau of Statistics
BPEDP Balochistan Primary Education Development
Programme
BRUWAS Balochistan Rural Water and Sanitation project
BWASA Balochistan Water and Sanitation Agency
BWR Bureau of Water Resources
CBO Community Based Organization
DFIs Development Finance Institutions
DMD Directorate of Mineral Development
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ESCAP Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
GEF Global Environment Facility
GIS Geographical Information System
GoP Government of Pakistan
HITE Hab Industrial and Trading Estate
IEE Initial Environmental Examination
IMPLAN Improving the Systems for Development Planning in
Balochistan
IUCN IUCN-The World Conservation Union
IWASRI International Waterlogging and Salinity Research
Institute
LB&RDD Local Bodies and Rural Development Department
LCC&I Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry
LIEDA Lasbela Industrial Estate Development Authority
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
NCS National Conservation Strategy
NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NORAD Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
NWFP North Western Frontier Province
P&DD Planning and Development Department
PAS Poverty Alleviation Strategy, 1999
PEPA Pakistan Environmental Protection Act
PSDP Public Sector Development Programme
QDA Quetta Development Authority
QMC Quetta Municipal Corporation
SPCS Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy
WAPDA Water and Power Development Authority

6.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy vii
Glossary
Katchi abadi Unauthorized and unplanned human settlement (mostly) slum areas lacking civic amenities
Barani Rainfed
Bunds Embankments
Hamun Seasonal wetland or playa
Hor Bay
Jirga Council of tribal elders
Karez Underground water channel
Kaur River
Khushkaba Rainfed agriculture
Mazri Dwarf palm, its foliage is generally used for making handicrafts and mats
Nullah Water channel/stream
Rabi Winter cropping
Sailaba Agricultural landform irrigated through hill torrents
Ulema Religious scholars

7.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy ix
T
he Balochistan Conservation Strategy is a strategic plan
designed to define and address the issues affecting the
socio-economic development of Balochistan, through the
sustainable use of its natural resources. In many ways, it can be
termed as a sustainable development agenda of the province
that promises regeneration and sustainable use of ecological
resources and continued economic development with active
participation from the people of Balochistan.
The need for developing the BCS arose because of, all the
provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan has a high rate of depletion
of resources. The conventional top-down development
approaches with their command and control implementation
have met with limited success. Institutional weaknesses have
been predominant due to poor participatory planning and
decision-making that has constrained appropriate prioritization
of goals and the proper use of limited resources.
Another major need was to take an integrated view of the
main issues and to prepare a framework that did not
compromise one solution at the cost of another. The BCS was
developed through a robust participatory planning process
spanning three years. It took as its baseline the National
Conservation Strategy developed by the federal government,
while building on the experiences of the Sarhad Provincial
Conservation Strategy exercise undertaken by the NWFP
government. The BCS aims to devise ways and means to weave
environment and natural resource conservation with
development and to recommend an institutional framework
that will bring ownership, sustainability and efficiency in
management of these vital endowments.
The strategy is not carved in stone, rather, it is a living and
evolutionary document. It will be important to learn lessons
during implementation and capture them at mid term review of
BCS implementation five years from now for refining direction
and improving implementation.
Given political will and the marrying of other major
initiatives such as the Poverty Alleviation Strategy, the Social
Action Programme and the Devolution Plan, the BCS offers a
common platform for joint action towards a prosperous,
healthy and economically viable Balochistan and eventually,
Pakistan. Certainly, its implementation will enable Balochistanís
resources to achieve a level of sustainability that can secure the
future for many generations to come.
Preface

8.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy xi
T
he development of the Balochistan Conservation
Strategy was a team effort spanning four years. This
entailed constituency building, the establishment of
multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder interest groups and
consultations at the district and provincial levels. The voices
heard were bolstered through a ëBCS frameworkí, the
commissioning and review of 15 Background Papers, and
comments on five drafts of the document itself. The
stakeholders included politicians, federal and provincial
government agencies, armed forces, civil society institutions,
the private sector, media, academia, ulema, tribal elders and
community leaders, and donors. All in all 4,000 stakeholders
represented the people of Balochistan in 125 meetings,
workshops and training events. Their efforts were
acknowledged by the provincial Cabinet which approved the
BCS on May 19, 2000.
The development of the BCS was guided and supervised by
a Steering Committee chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary
(Development) and composed of members from government
agencies, the private sector and civil society institutions. The
guidance provided by Ata Muhammad Jafer, Muhammad
Younas Khan Mandokhel, Major (Retd) Nadir Ali and Ahmed
Bukhsh Lehri as Additional Chief Secretary (Development) and
chair of the Steering Committee is gratefully acknowledged.
Taj Muhammad Faiz, Ahmed Khan Khajak, Mian Anwar-ul-Haq
Badar and Muhammad Azam Kasi, as the Chief of Section
(Environment), coordinated this exercise within the P&D
Department and with the line departments. The EPA
Balochistan associated itself closely throughout this exercise.
A.Z.K. Sherdil, Shahid Hussain, Muhammad Younas Khan
Mandokhel, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Mirza Qamar Baig and Major
(Retd) Muhammad Ashraf Nasir oversaw the development of
the BCS and had provided insight in political management of
the process.
The Chief Executives of the province Mr. Zulfiqar Magsi, Mr.
Akhtar Mengal, Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali and the Governor
Justice (Retd) Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal have taken keen interest in
the development of the BCS. The interest and insight of the
Governor and the Cabinet members, especially Sardar Wazir
Ahmed Jogezai, Minister for Environment, Wildlife, Livestock,
Forest, Agriculture, Cooperatives, Tourism, Food and Fisheries,
reflected in the reading, debating and approval of the BCS
document is gratefully acknowledged.
It is not possible to acknowledge a very large number of
contributors individually. However, their contributions are
collectively acknowledged as inputs from the various fora they
were part of, including:
s Steering Committee members (Appendix 2).
Acknowledgements

9.
s Members of 13 open-ended interest groups on
water, forests and biodiversity, livestock and
rangelands, agriculture, fisheries and coastal
development, minerals and mining, industry, urban
environment, cultural heritage and tourism,
environmental health, NGOs, environmental
communication and environmental education-
actively participated in the entire process.
s The men and women who participated in the
consultative meetings in Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela,
Nasirabad, Mastung, Quetta, Pishin, Ziarat and Zhob
districts; and the interest, assistance and
cooperation of the Deputy Commissioners in
organizing and participating in the meetings is
recognized.
s Authors of the BCS Background Papers
(Appendix 3) for writing and revising the papers
based on several consultations;
s The participants of the provincial workshops
who represented a cross-section of civil society in
Balochistan.
s Donor-funded projects for sharing information,
experiences and lessons learnt. The contributions
received from the UNDP's Technical Assistance
Team to the Area Development Programme
Balochistan, led by Dr. Choudhry Muhammad
Yousaf, is appreciated.
IUCN Pakistan, through the BCS Support Unit led
by Mr. Abdul Latif Rao, Senior Programme Director,
supported the entire BCS process and document.
Thanks must be given to the BCS team: Julian Thomas
Inglis, who wrote parts one and two of the document;
Iqbal A. Kidwai for building the BSC constituency and
managing the public consultation; Dr. Fauzia Deeba
Tareen, Communication and Education Coordinator,
and Nadir Gul, NGO & Gender Coordinator, in developing
their relevant constituencies and involving them in the
BCS process. Usman Qazi assisted as the NGO
Coordinator in the early days while Hamid Sarfraz,
Documentation Specialist managed to pull all
comments into the BCS Background Papers and the
document itself.
IUCN Pakistanís contribution through Muhammad
Rafiq, IUCN Country Representative for Pakistan and
Nikhat Sattar, Director Programmes is acknowledged.
The Communications Unit played a role through
Saneeya Hussain, Dhunmai Cowasjee, Amber Hak and
Azhar Saeed. Not least is the contribution of Ms. Aban
Marker Kabraji, the current IUCN Regional Director for
Asia, who hails from Quetta. It was her dream that
Balochistan should have a framework for environmental
protection and sustainable development and this
document is testimony to that.
The financial assistance provided by the
Government of Holland through the Royal Netherlands
Embassy, Islamabad is gratefully acknowledged. Special
thanks are due to Mr. E.C. Kengen and Mr. Aart van der
Horst, for their keen interest and cooperation.
Finally, many thanks are due to Linda Stark who
edited the document.
xii Balochistan Conservation Strategy
Acknowledgements

10.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy xiii
Acknowledgements
Steering Committee
Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Chairman
Planning and Development Department, Government of Balochistan
Secretary Member
Environment, Wildlife, Livestock, Forests and Tourism Department, Government of Balochistan
Secretary Member
Agriculture, Cooperatives, Food and Fisheries Department, Government of Balochistan
Secretary Member
Education, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Department
(Secretary, Information, Culture and Sports Department before October 29, 1999), Government of Balochistan
Secretary Member
Finance Department, Government of Balochistan
Chief Executive Member
Balochistan Rural Support Programme
Country Representative Member
IUCN Pakistan
President Member
Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries
Chairman Member
Society for Torghar Environmental Protection
Chairperson Member
Female Education Trust

11.
T
he Balochistan Conservation Strategy (BCS) was
prepared by the government of Balochistan with the
technical assistance of IUCN–The World Conservation
Union. It is the product of three years of work. It involved a
great deal of discussion with all those who have a stake in the
future of the province. It was recognized from the outset
that there could be no ’quick fix’ for the problems of water
supply, rapid urbanization, and the deterioration of
rangelands and their natural resources. Dealing with the
complex issues confronting the province will require a
concerted programme of action for many years to come. The
BCS focuses on an action programme to be implemented
over the next 10 years.
The report has three parts. The first (Chapters 1 and 2)
provides the rationale, process, and framework for the BCS. It
includes a key section on principles, goals, and objectives. The
second and more substantial part (Chapters 3–18) contains
the ’building blocks’ of the strategy. The third part (Chapters
19–23) is concerned with how the strategy will be
implemented, resources mobilized, and progress assessed.
PART I: BACKGROUND
Balochistan has a rich history dating back to the Stone Age.
Then, as now, people depended on the natural resources of
this arid region.
Balochistan led the world in the domestication of native
plants and animals that now form the basis of the
agropastoral systems and settlement patterns we see today.
The government is determined to achieve prosperity and
progress for the people of Balochistan. It intends to achieve
this through the optimal use of resources, new policy
initiatives, financial discipline, and balanced inter-sectoral and
inter-regional development.
The Ninth Five-Year Plan recognizes that progress and
prosperity cannot be measured in economic or monetary
terms alone. It also has to do with access to health care,
education, and basic civic amenities. It entails giving citizens an
opportunity to influence public policy. They must be
participants in decision-making on the development and use
of natural resources.
The BCS places particular emphasis on the need to
protect the natural environment. It is a strategic plan,
prepared through a participatory process, designed to define
and confront the issues facing the socio-economic
development of the province based on the sustainable use of
its natural resources.
Balochistan Conservation Strategy xv
Executive Summary

12.
The BCS comes at an important time in the
province’s development. In March 1999, the
government released a Poverty Alleviation Strategy
(PAS) for the province. The PAS is targeted at the
estimated 70% of the population and its focus is
development. Emphasis is placed on increasing
production and exports in the agriculture, livestock,
fisheries and industrial sectors. Achieving
development objectives and dealing effectively with
poverty depends, for at least the next decade, on the
ability to manage natural resources in a sustainable
manner and to conserve the environment. This is
where the need for a strategic plan comes to the fore
in underpinning the government’s attempts to
reconcile its environment and development objectives.
Points of Departure
Events at the provincial, national and international
level provide the context, precedents and momentum
for the development of the BCS. The reality is that
for much of its recent history, Balochistan has been
confronted with major environmental challenges. The
shortage of water and degraded pastures and forests
have been the subjects of concern for decades.
Settlements are characterized by poor planning,
contaminated water supplies, inefficient or non-
existent sanitation and waste management services
and air pollution. The situation is getting worse as the
population expands and urbanization accelerates.
Interventions in the natural resource sector have been
numerous, extensive and expensive since at least the
1950s. Nevertheless, when the government of the
Netherlands published an Environmental Profile
Balochistan in 1992, it drew attention to a growing
and widespread concern about the state of the
environment and the sustainability of the province’s
natural resources. Clearly, sectoral interventions on
their own have not produced the desired results. On
the basis of that report, the government of
Balochistan announced its intention to develop a
conservation strategy.
In 1992, the Pakistan National Conservation
Strategy (NCS) was approved. The NCS set out a 10-
year environmental action plan for Pakistan. Most
important, it recognized the importance of
implementation at the provincial level. Provincial
conservation strategies are to be based on the
objectives, priorities and recommendations of the
NCS, adapted to the needs, potentials and aspirations
of the people in each province. There is an important
international dimension to the strategy. Balochistan is
bounded by Iran and Afghanistan and by the Arabian
Sea. It shares many resources with its neighbours,
including water, fish, and wildlife, and is conscious of
its responsibilities as a steward of these
transboundary resources. Pakistan is a signatory to
many international agreements and is active in
fulfilling its obligations under numerous environmental
and conservation conventions.
Process
A high-level Steering Committee guided the
development of the BCS. This committee is chaired
by the Additional Chief Secretary (Development). Its
members are the secretaries of provincial
government departments and representatives of the
private sector and civil society. The process involved
building a broad constituency of support for the
preparation and implementation of the BCS. The
process reached out to local people through a series
of district-level public consultation meetings.
Background papers were prepared, mainly by local
authors. Close working relationships were developed
with related projects and programmes. The real
strength of the process came from the wide
stakeholder participation in numerous groups set up
to consider and debate issues dealt with in the
strategy. The BCS process has gone a long way
towards developing a participatory culture in
decision-making.
Probably the single most important outcome of
the process was the development of principles, goal
and objectives. The overall goal of the strategy is the
well-being of the people and ecosystems in
Balochistan. Based on the underlying principles agreed
on, the objectives of the BCS are:
s providing a framework and strategic plan for
conservation of the environment and sustainable
use of natural resources;
s promoting behavioural change for the protection
of the environment, biodiversity and natural
resources;
s facilitating better access to information for
improved decision-making at all levels; and
s improving mechanisms for promoting public
awareness and popular support for the
sustainable use of resources.
The principles, goal and objectives are of
fundamental significance. If development conforms to
these, then the prospects for a sustainable future for
xvi Balochistan Conservation Strategy
Executive Summary

13.
the province is assured. They will guide the
preparation, planning, and implementation of all
development programmes in the social, economic and
natural resource sectors.
PART II:
THE BUILDING
BLOCKS OF THE BCS
The BCS is constructed from a series of linked ‘building
blocks’. Each block can be read independently of the
others, and offers the best available information on the
subject, a discussion of issues and trends, and a section
entitled ‘The Way Ahead’. This is the action plan for
dealing with these issues and trends. Extensive
background information is provided for several reasons.
It gives a factual account of the subject based on the
best available and most up-to-date quantitative data and
generally accepted set of facts. It provides a point of
departure for the discussion of issues and trends and
for the action agenda that follows. It also serves as a
reference for assessing future changes in the subject
area. Having all of the information in one place is
important in a largely oral culture, where perspectives
on issues vary widely and where reports may not
generally be available to all stakeholders.
The first blocks of Part II deal with the resource base
on which the population subsists: land, water,
biodiversity, the coastal zone, the atmosphere, and
minerals and energy. The next two blocks on industry
and urban environment review the potential of the
province for sustainable development based on its
natural resources. The following three blocks look at the
relationship between people and their environment in
terms of health, population and poverty, and cultural
heritage. The final five blocks look at key elements for
the successful understanding, acceptance, and
implementation of the strategy: governance, the role of
civil society organizations, gender and development,
information management, and environmental
communication and education.
Land
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan,
covering an area of 347,200 square kilometres. It
occupies a strategic location in the context of
resource-rich Central Asia. The province commands
major overland access routes from Europe to South
Asia and is a vital link in future transportation
corridors from the Central Asian Republics to the
Arabian Sea. Balochistan shares river basins and
groundwater resources with Iran and Afghanistan. It is
located on the migration routes of economically and
biologically important wildlife populations. It has a
major stake in and responsibility for coastal and marine
resources of the Arabian Sea.
Mountains dominate the terrain, and valley floors
and piedmont plains make up only 15% of the landscape.
It is these two landforms on which most human
settlements, farms, and roads are developed. Accurate
and detailed information on land use is hard to find.
Land use in only half of the province has been reported,
and in some districts it amounts to less than 20%. Key
issues include a lack of awareness about the potential
and limitations of the land; a poor or absent information
base; several incompletely developed land classification
systems; a continuing controversy over the impact of
grazing on processes of desertification; and a complex,
poorly understood land ownership system.
Dealing with these issues will require introducing a
comprehensive and integrated land use planning
process. Decisions on land use and development will
take account of the needs of the people, the national
interest, and the importance of taking advantage of
the province’s geopolitical location in respect of Central
Asia. Traditionally, decision-making has been most
effective at the local level. The process will be geared
to participatory, local decision-making, with national
needs and regional development set in that context.
This approach is in line with the wishes of the
communities and is consistent with the decentralization
of decision-making, devolution of power to district
level, the strengthening of local bodies, and
empowerment of local communities. The process and
institutional arrangements will ensure that information
flows freely to those who require it and that
responsibility and accountability is in local hands. The
first and most important step is involving stakeholders
from the beginning in the planning process. A Land Use
Planning Commission will oversee the process.
A second, related activity will be the preparation of
an Electronic Resource Atlas of Balochistan. This will be
a groundbreaking initiative that will literally put
Balochistan on the map. It will be an invaluable tool for
land use planners, resource managers, and the
development community. The Atlas will capitalize on the
large amount of existing information and expertise
within the province. It will be used to identify and fill
information gaps on the distribution of renewable and
Balochistan Conservation Strategy xvii
Executive Summary

14.
non-renewable resources. The Atlas can readily be
distributed and updated.
A much-neglected characteristic of Balochistan is
its seismic activity. Earthquakes and tsunamis have
shaped the history of the province and have had a
profound effect on people and property. Balochistan is
located on several active faults. A risk assessment will
be undertaken as an input to development planning and
emergency preparedness measures. This would include
coastal areas, where major port development is
anticipated, and areas where water control schemes
are planned.
About 6% of the land is currently being cultivated,
mostly in small landholdings. Agriculture is the mainstay
of the economy and employs 67% of the total work-
force. Approximately 60% of cultivated land is under
dryland farming. These crops give poor yields but are
important in the subsistence economy. It is the
orchards in the upland valleys that produce the highest
returns. The production of orchards per unit of land
fetches three to four times the income of grain or
vegetable crops.
At intermediate elevations (500–1,500 metres)
where there is perennial water and a marketing
infrastructure, farmers can produce off-season
vegetable crops that command a premium price in
major urban areas. In valleys above 1,500 metres,
farmers can obtain significant returns from fruit
production if irrigation water is available. The promise
of high returns has promoted the shift to irrigated
agriculture. There has been a tremendous increase in
land brought under irrigation since 1985. This has been
made possible through the increase in the number of
tubewells and additional surface water from the Indus.
Investment in groundwater abstraction is high and
orchards have proliferated. Provincial revenues have
increased by over Rs. 12 billion since 1985 from
orchards, grain crops and vegetables.
There are many issues of concern in the
agricultural sector. The most pressing, however, relate
to the heavy and inefficient use of water and the
extensive, often indiscriminate use of agrochemicals.
There are more than 21,000 tubewells in operation,
contributing to the rapid decline in groundwater
reserves. Irrigation systems operate at 45% efficiency
due to poor maintenance of channels, field losses, and
overirrigation. All aspects of agrochemical use, including
handling, storage, use, and disposal, are cause for
concern. Little attention has been paid to integrated
pest management approaches. The strategy for
agriculture includes measures to improve water
management practices and marketing, provision of
research and extension services, training in the use of
agrochemicals, and reorienting and improving service
delivery at the community level.
Range-based livestock production systems are one
of the major sources of livelihood for people in rural
areas. Rangelands constitute 79% of the total area of
the province. There may be more than 20 million sheep
and goats – six times the estimated carrying capacity.
Animals are low in productivity and prone to a variety
of diseases. The uplands of Balochistan are
characterized by flocks of sheep and goats and the
seasonal movements of the people who tend them. It is
a traditional way of life, full of cultural and social
traditions and characterized by established seasonal
migratory patterns. It is more than a romantic image.
These people may have few options open to them.
They are not organized and have no voice in resource
management. It is a way of life that is very susceptible
to unintended changes as a result of development
activities. Pastoralists have an intimate knowledge of
the land and its resources. Understanding their cultures
may provide some answers to the issues of overgrazing
and desertification and provide some strategies for
ameliorating the situation and reversing these trends.
The strategy calls for the development of a policy
on nomadic and transhumant pastoralism to ensure the
sustainability of these life-styles, to understand it better,
and to enhance the flow of benefits that flow from it.
This involves privatizing and setting up veterinary
services where and when people need them. It means
obtaining fair prices for producers, promoting security
of tenure, working with pastoralists to improve range
management practices based on traditional practices
such as pargorh, and applying the lessons learned from
almost 50 years of range science in Balochistan.
Freshwater Resources
It comes as no surprise that a reliable supply of water is
central to the sustainable development of this arid
region. Problems of water shortages affect every living
thing and every human endeavour. Access to water is
fundamental to the growth and prosperity of the
province. What is surprising is that very little planning
has been done to ensure that water resources are used
and developed in a sustainable manner.
While data are deficient in many respects, the basic
facts are fairly well known. The bottom line is that
within the next 50 years, over 90% of all available
sources will be fully used, with 86% of this dedicated to
agriculture. All of the province’s share of Indus waters
xviii Balochistan Conservation Strategy
Executive Summary

15.
will be used, together with all of the groundwater
reserves and most of the water from surface runoff
and floods. Harnessing flash floods will be an enormous
challenge. In cities such as Quetta, the gap between
supply and demand is growing rapidly. The collapse of
the water supply predicted in 1992 in the
Environmental Profile Balochistan is a spectre that now
looms very large.
The major issues that must be tackled are
groundwater mining and the inefficient use of the
resource. The strategy will be to manage groundwater
on a sustainable use basis. If properly managed, the
resource will be available in the long term. Shifting from
the present practice of groundwater mining to
sustainable use requires a great deal of planning. It also
means evaluating some current practices, such as the
use of delay action dams, to ensure that human and
financial resources are efficiently and effectively
deployed. Agriculture places the heaviest demand on
the resource. The strategy recommends that all
stakeholders work together to develop a clear vision for
the future of irrigated agriculture in the province for
the next 5–25 years. A roundtable will be established
for the purpose. The development of a sense of vision
is urgently needed at a time when some orchard owners
are cutting down their trees due to lack of economic
viability or lack of water, while others are busy installing
new wells and planting more fruit trees.
A sovereign Balochistan Water Board will be
established initially for Pishin Lora Basin by expanding
the mandate of the recently established Provincial
Water Management Authority and restructuring or
linking the existing water related bodies to improve
water management. The jurisdiction of this Board will
be expanded to other river basins. Ideally, there should
be one Board for each of the 14 river basins in
Balochistan. The Board will have sweeping powers to
deal with what is a major crisis. It will be supported by a
Technical Committee, and a lead agency e.g. Irrigation
and Power Department will be designated to collect,
maintain, and distribute information on supply, demand,
and quality of water. The Board will develop and
implement management plans; decide on the issuance
of water licenses; monitor enforcement of laws;
recommend comprehensive water policy and enabling
legislation; oversee research, and monitoring and
evaluation programmes; and ensure that environmental
impact assessments are carried out for all major water
projects. The Board will focus on addressing the issue
of groundwater depletion in upland districts, promoting
irrigation efficiency, harnessing surface runoff and
sustainable water development.
There is a rich tradition of water rights and local
water resource management in Balochistan. Local
people can provide considerable insights into what to
this point has largely been the subject of mathematical
models. The Water Board will consult widely with local
people in developing management plans and will take
advantage of effective and efficient water
management practices where they exist or can be
reintroduced. Watershed rehabilitation and management
will be given priority attention. The specific needs will be
assessed on a basin-by-basin basis, at the valley level.
The major task for the Water Board will be to work with
local people to reach consensus on the nature of the
problem, and to get their assistance in solving it.
Biodiversity
Balochistan is rich in biodiversity. Wide variations in
physical features and climate have produced diverse
landscapes, ecosystems and habitats that are important
to the national and global heritage. Much of the province
remains poorly investigated. Systematic knowledge of
the flora remains incomplete and a comprehensive
analysis of endemicity and species distribution and
abundance has not been completed. What is certain is
that Balochistan is one of the most important wildlife
regions of Pakistan, and contains a large number of
species not found elsewhere in the country.
Balochistan has one of the largest blocks of juniper
(Juniperus excelsa) forests in the world. They cover
approximately 141,000 hectares. The most extensive and
best-known examples are found in the Ziarat and
Zarghoon valleys, which occur at elevations between
1,980 – 3,350 metres. Growing conditions are harsh. The
trees are very slow growing. Consequently, these forests
are believed to be among the primitive in the world.
The province also has some of the world’s finest
wetland habitats. These are small in number and extent,
but have enhanced value when viewed in the
perspective of an arid environment. They attract a
variety of waterfowl including swans, geese, ducks,
grebes, herons, and several species of waders. Zangi
Nawar Lake in Chagai District is a wetland of
international importance.
There are four species of threatened mammals in
Balochistan. Two are critically endangered – the
Balochistan black bear and the Chiltan markhor. Two
species are endangered – the straight-horned
markhor and the urial. There are many important
species of migratory birds. The Chagai Desert hosts a
unique assemblage of reptiles including six endemics
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16.
and at least six others found only in the region.
Among the marine species, the status of the
endangered green turtle, the vulnerable marsh
crocodile, and sea snakes is uncertain. There are a
number of endemic species of fresh water fish. Less
well known is the diversity of crop plants, livestock
and wild relatives of crop plants.
The protected areas system consists of two
national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries, and eight game
reserves. It adds up to 5.3% of the province. To this can
be added five private game reserves and one
community conservation area. But with few exceptions
the protected areas contain few, if any, of the animals
they were set up to protect. Competition with other
land uses such as agriculture and livestock grazing,
indiscriminate and uncontrolled hunting, and the
removal of natural vegetation for fuel are some of the
contributing factors. The indiscriminate use of
agrochemicals is a cause for concern.
The Biodiversity Action Plan for Pakistan provides
the basis for action to address issues related to
biodiversity. It sets out the steps to be taken to
promote the conservation and sustainable use of
Balochistan’s biodiversity. Key measures include:
s a comprehensive education and awareness
programme;
s development of a biodiversity database;
s community-based sustainable use programmes;
s developing and strengthening the protected areas
system;
s developing a policy for ex-situ conservation of
biodiversity;
s developing an effective policy framework and
enabling legislation; and
s developing institutional capacity to manage
biodiversity.
The key to the success of these measures is the
active participation of all stakeholders, especially the
communities. This has been demonstrated in areas such
as the Torghar Community Conservation Area, Qila
Saifullah District; in Dureji Game Reserve; and in
Hazarganji Chiltan National Park. Early attention will be
given to conserving threatened and endemic species
and important habitats such as the juniper, chilghoza,
and mangrove forests; wetlands; and wintering and
staging areas for migratory birds.
Coastal Zone
In any discussion of natural resources, the coastal zone
is often an afterthought. In fact, much of the 770-
kilometre-long coastal belt in Balochistan is beyond the
pale. With the exception of the shrimp fishery, it is a
poorly known and often neglected area. Yet it is one
of the most important areas of the province. In
Gwadar district, the 600-kilometre coast is
characterized by remote bays, beaches, and headlands.
These provide natural harbours around which 35
fishing communities have developed. This coast is also
important for many species of wildlife, including
turtles and migratory birds. It is a rich, productive, and
largely unspoiled area. The Lasbela coastal belt, in close
proximity to Karachi, has two fishing villages and a
more developed character. There are two industrial
estates, a major power plant, and a ship-breaking yard.
A dam on the Hab River provides water to Karachi. A
refinery is being planned.
The sea is very much a mixed blessing for
Balochistan. On the one hand it provides a source of
income, but on the other it can be a destructive force.
Southwest monsoon winds, submarine topography, and
coastal orientation combine to promote the upwellings
that result in this coastal zone being one of the most
productive in the world. But the coast is also
susceptible to wave attack during this period, and there
is a continual process of erosion and deposition along
the coast. The coast has other problems, including
susceptibility to earthquakes, tsunamis, and oil pollution
and the salination of ground water. The coastal zone is
for the most part arid. Rain, when it does come, often
results in devastating flash floods.
The coastal areas, particularly in the Mekran,
remain the least developed part of Pakistan,
notwithstanding their strategic importance and
economic potential. Distances are large, the population
small, water in short supply, the climate inhospitable,
and road networks poor or non-existent. Electricity is
available in small number of coastal settlements and
that too for a few hours each day. The federal and
provincial governments have responded with a
comprehensive development plan. Elements include:
s a deep sea port at Gwadar;
s a coastal highway and national highways including
the one to central Asian countries;
s upgraded airports;
s coastal shipping and ferry services;
s new power plants;
s a bulk liquid terminal at Mauza Damb;
s dams on all rivers and streams for drinking water
and irrigation;
s a desalination plant at Gadani;
s modern fishing equipment and infrastructure;
s tree plantations;
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17.
s introduction of goats and poultry; and
s new beach resorts.
Priority is given to a special development zone for
Greater Gwadar City, the deep-sea port, and the coastal
road. Private activities under way include offshore
exploration for oil and gas, planning for a
petrochemical complex in Sonmiani Bay, and a major
new residential development and resort near Gwadar.
The key consideration is one of sustainability – how
should the coast be developed consistent with the
goals and objectives of the BCS? The plan does not
deal to any great extent with issues such as coastal
erosion, degrading coastal and marine ecosystems,
declining water quality and pollution, overexploitation
of coastal resources, endangered marine species and
the need for institutional capacity and legislation. The
intergovernmental and interdepartmental approach to
the development of the Mekran package is
encouraging. But it falls short of an integrated
approach to resource management. There are no
mechanisms to manage conflicting uses, to ensure that
measures are taken to protect the environment, or to
deal with emergencies such as oil spills, flooding, or
earthquakes. There have been many development
projects on the coast. A review of past experiences –
successes and failures – reinforces the need for an
integrated approach to the management and
development of coastal resources.
The development of an Integrated Coastal Zone
Management Plan (ICZMP) is now a top priority,
requiring the participation of all stakeholders.
Guidelines for the preparation of a plan have been
drawn up, and the stakeholders identified. Priority is to
be given to the management of the Hab, Winder and
Gadani industrial areas; the sustainable use of coastal
marine resources; the sustainable use of freshwater
resources; and conservation of natural capital. The
plan can build on earlier scientific and technical work
by ESCAP in the 1980s.
The ICZMP will differ from earlier technocratic
approaches by fully involving the communities through
an extensive participatory planning process. This will
ensure that local priorities are identified and addressed.
An important first step in the process is the
development of a vision of the coastal zone in the
future. The vision has of necessity to be pragmatic. It
has to accommodate local needs, national interest, and
international realities. Local needs are currently seen in
the Mekran in terms of a healthy and expanding fishing
industry with some limited agricultural development. In
Lasbela, the hope is for a thriving industrial economy in
the shadow of Karachi. The national vision is one of
major offshore fisheries development, oil and minerals,
major ports, the opening up of the interior, and access
to markets from central Asia. From a geopolitical
perspective, the area is one small part of a region
dependent on the Arabian Sea for fisheries and
transportation.
The goal of planning is to promote the sustainable
development of resources, and not simply to zone it
for various purposes or to limit human use. Addressing
issues and trends and developing planning measures
means examining various ways of managing human use
of the area and evaluating alternative management
strategies. The first and foremost concern is
addressing poverty. Responses to the issues
surrounding coastal development must give this
concern top priority. Planning is no substitute for
action. Where needs have been identified, interventions
will be planned. Perhaps the most pressing issue
concerns the fishery. The first step will be to reassess
stocks of all economic species of fish and shellfish. The
second step will be taking action to improve the
present fishery, especially handling and processing the
catch. Other priorities may include:
s a pollution monitoring and oil spill response
programme;
s emergency response preparedness;
s small-scale desalination plants;
s protection of critical habitats and species,
cultural heritage, scenic landscapes and
recreational areas;
s alternative sources of energy;
s town planning;
s pollution control;
s a local Agenda 21 for Gwadar City; and
s management plans for Hingol national park and
potential Ramsar sites.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere provides the air to breathe, water for
drinking and agriculture, and a source of energy. The
ecosystems we see today are an expression of a harsh
and demanding climate. They have evolved to meet
these conditions and to persist during times of change.
As elsewhere, climate is changing but we know little
about how it will affect Balochistan. Mean sea level is
rising and low-lying areas at Gwadar and Gadani may be
affected, as well as lagoons and wetlands. Freshwater
resources along the coast may become saline. Long-
term changes in the abundance and distribution of
rainfall are not known. These have implications for
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agriculture, livestock, ecosystems and for the recharge
of groundwater. Changes in winds affect marine
productivity and the potential for energy generation.
The frequency and duration of dust storms and
shifting dunes is also affected.
Resource planning and development programmes
require continuous, detailed, high-quality records of
meteorological data and the human and financial
resources to develop, maintain, and use them
effectively. In Balochistan, both data and resources are
scarce. This lack of reliable data is one of the major
constraints in the scientific planning and sustainable
development of water resources of the province. It
also constrains the analysis of trends in the periodicity
and duration of droughts and changes in the
monsoons. Weather forecasting systems are not in
place to forecast cyclones or to provide early warning
to people.
Balochistan suffers from poor air quality, especially
in urban centres such as Quetta. Airborne dust is a fact
of life everywhere. In the cities, the exhaust from heavy
traffic triggers the formation of smog during winter.
The key issues in terms of the atmosphere thus are:
s the effects of global warming and climate change;
s lack of adequate, reliable meteorological data;
s the need for predictive climate models for
agriculture, drought, and monsoons;
s the need for weather forecasting for land and
marine regions; and
s the need to monitor and deal with poor air quality
and air pollution.
The strategy provides for the development and
operation of an up-to-date