Solution to Balochistan Issue March 02, 2012 The decision to convene an APC on Balochistan was announced by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani last week and he constituted a committee of ministers and PPP leaders to contact politicians, inside and outside parliament, to convince them to participate in the conference. The way out of this situation demands that we should learn from history. The Balochistan problem must no more be seen in the security perspective only. Focus must be shifted on its strong political and social elements. Let me add a few more recommendations for resolution of this simmering issue. First, there is a dire need to popularise education in the southern part of the Balochistan where the literacy rate is minimal as compared to the northern part that is predonimantly a pushtun area. According to an NGO working on education in Balochistan, more than 80 per cent children do not any get education because there are no schools for them in their locality. Those that exist here and there are in fact ghost schools. Education is regarded as a panacea for all ills because it brings tolerance and moderation in society. In order to bring enlightenment and moderation in Baloch-dominated areas, it is necessary for the government to invest in the education sector so that people may not be used by foreign players working against the integrity of Pakistan. Secondly, as the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is going to start working soon, the government should ensure that all employment opportunities must go the Baloch people. By doing so, we can achieve two objectives one, the security of the pipeline that will pass through this province for almost 1000km; second, the employment to the Baloch people. It will help to bring peace and prosperity to the poor people of Balochistan, as well as help to contain the law and order situation that is getting worse day by day. Third, as the PML (N) has now agreed to allow the NFC award on the basis of economic backwardness and area, instead of the population only, Balochistan stands to gain much.