Potential and Constraints Quetta
Quetta city is very much the centre of the province in political, commercial and cultural (and probably military) terms. There is no other urban centre in Balochistan that comes even close to the function that Quetta has.
The fact that the capital of the province is located within its boundaries, makes Quetta district incomparable to other districts in Balochistan. The city is the seat of government (provincial-, divisional -, and district headquarters), has the largest commercial establishments, is the hub of communications to other parts of the province and Pakistan and to other countries, is the centre of higher educational facilities and houses health facilities with a catchment area much wider than Quetta district.
The very fact of this central position is at the same time the major constraint for the district as well as its most important potential.
Quetta district is a comparatively highly urbanized district. The present population is a product of internal growth, of rural/urban migration, of the fact that it has such an important commercial function, of the fact that it has a large military establishment and of the influx of refugees from Afghanistan.
The city, for a large part reconstructed after the devastating earthquake of 1935, was not built for its present function. This has led to unfortunate consequences as traffic congestion, air pollution and waste disposal problems. The city has to make a major effort in urban planning to address these issues and to tackle the question of Quetta's future water supply. If this is not done, Quetta's current central position will prove the most important bottleneck for further development of the city and the district.
In 1981 almost 75% of the population of Quetta district lives in urban areas. There is no reason to assume the urban proportion has become less; on the contrary, the urban population is now most probably well over 75% of the district population. This figure makes it obvious that the economy in the district is anchored in the above mentioned central function of Quetta city.
The income in the district is created in the government- and services sectors, especially trade and transport, and to a lesser extent in industries.
Mining is an important economic activity as well, especially the exploitation of coal. According to a recent report of the Geological Survey of Pakistan, there are vast coal recourses in the district, so an expansion of the sector seems feasible. Application of modern production methods and safety measures for the miners should have the highest priority in such an expansion.
For the rural population agriculture is of course an important economic activity, with horticulture (fruits and vegetables) as the most significant sub-sector (57% of the cultivated area in 1994-95). The district hardly produces subsistence crops, while farmers avoid those crops with huge water requirements (compared to the proce they fetch on the market). Tube wells are by far the most important source of irrigation. The lowering groundwater table in Quetta, caused by excessive off takes for irrigation and household purposes, is a matter of great concern.
Available livestock figures suggest that about as many animals are slaughtered in the district as there are available, which can lead to the conclusion that there is a considerable import of livestock, both from Afghanistan and from other parts of the province.
There is every reason to treat the environment in the district with great care, both in the urban and rural areas. The urban problems are topped by the air pollution in the city and by the problems caused by deficient waste disposal methods (sanitation and solid waste). Still about 13% of the area of the district is under forest. It can be expected that this percentage will decrease over the years due to further expansion of the population and due to cutting of wood as cheap source of energy.
It is not surprising that Quetta has a fairly well developed economic infrastructure in terms of roads, rail and communications by air. It has a flourishing banking sector, while the city provides a range of other commercial services.
Seven institutions are involved with the supply of drinking water in the district, of which six in Quetta town. The problems related to the future water supply has been mentioned earlier.
The hygienic conditions in the city, but also in the rural areas, leave much to be desired. Sanitation and solid waste disposal should become a top priority for the municipal - and district authorities.
Its central position brings with it that Quetta has five hospitals where second and third level of care can be provided. This still is not adequate. The quality of services has in most cases to be improved, while the services are used by people from far beyond the borders of the district, including from Afghanistan. Another issues is the physical state of health facilities. Although possibly better than in other areas of the province, health care is easier accessible for men than for women.
One of the factors is the shortage of female health staff and the fact that females find constraints with regard to working in remote areas of the district.
The district provides educational services ranging from primary school to university. There is a gender imbalance in education (lower enrolment figures for girls, higher drop out rates for girls), though less than in other districts, and a rural/urban imbalance (in rural areas it takes more years to complete primary and middle education than in urban areas). Quality and accessibility of education at all levels is a matter of concern.
Although Quetta district is the most developed district in Balochistan in terms of education for women, of availability of health services and of employment opportunities for women and of social participation, the overall environment is nonetheless not very encouraging for women. The opportunities are still limited. The pressure of culture and of social norms is prevalent. Class bias exists, with a greater extent of acceptance in government, NGO's and the private sector for women from upper strata in society. Quetta however holds a potential for women making an entrance in the system. It will require time and encouragement. Active participation from women can play a very significant role in the development of the province as a whole.