Economic Infrastructure and Communications Awaran
Introduction
It is universally accepted that communication is the backbone of socio-economic development of any area. Awaran, however, is totally deprived of roads, transportation, communication, and even electricity. In this situation development activities cannot really be carried out for the prosperity of the area and the people.
Roads
No black topped (metalled) roads exist in the entire district. Keeping in view the total geographical area of the district, the length of shingle roads (584 km) seems quite insufficient.
|
Type of Road |
National Highway |
Provincial Roads |
District Council |
Other Agencies |
Total |
|
|
Metalled (km) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Shingle (km) |
0 |
584 |
0 |
0 |
584 |
|
|
Total (km) |
0 |
584 |
0 |
0 |
584 |
|
|
Source: |
Provincial Buildings and Roads Division, GoB, Quetta |
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Transport
Two buses ply between Awaran and Karachi, while twelve pass through the area plying between Turbat and Karachi and between Gwadar, Turbat, and Khuzdar. Only a few vehicles were seen at Awaran, Jhal Jhao and Mashkai while a number of motorcycles belonging to the local people, were observed without registration numbers and there was no check on these motorcycles. The vehicles are registered at Lasbela, Khuzdar, and Karachi.
Rail- and Airways
No rail or air service is available in the district.
Radio and Television
No television booster is functioning in the area, hence the people are unable to watch Pakistan’s television programmes. The nearest radio station is at Turbat but its range is very limited. Cassette players and radio sets are very common in the district. People listen to radio and cassettes of their choice. Only a few houses have television sets and, necessarily, satellite receivers.
Telecommunications
The district is connected to other parts of the country through telephone and telegraph. Previously there was a manual exchange providing a trunk call facility. The new auto- exchange buildings have been completed with a direct dialling system at Awaran and Mashkai with 400 lines at each place. It was informed by the telephone authorities that these new exchanges will start functioning by the end of June 1997. At present 180 telephone connections have been provided to the subscribers while more then 700 applications are pending approval.
Post Offices / Courier Services
There are only three post offices in the entire district at Mashkai, Cash Koo, and Awaran. No courier service exists in the district. The Post Office is a regular department of the federal government.
Banking/Financial Institutions
The banking facilities in the area are very limited. Only two branches of United Bank Limited (UBL) are functioning at Awaran and Mashkai. These branches are providing all the commercial banking facilities to the public. One Branch of Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP) is also functioning at Awaran to provide loan facilities to the farmers for agricultural development in the area. No special banking provisions exist for women in the area.
Electricity and Gas
At present the entire district is deprived of electricity and gas supply through pipelines. A few houses were observed to have their own diesel generators for electricity generation. The WAPDA has completed a survey for electricity provision to Awaran in the last year. It is expected that by the end of 1998 Awaran will be connected to the Turbat grid and receive electricity.
Rest Houses
There are five rest houses in the district. Visitors and officials can stay there with the permission of concerned authorities. Most of the rest houses are not comfortable and basic facilities are not available.
|
Department |
Location |
Capacity |
|
Irrigation Dept. |
Awaran |
3 suits |
|
USAID |
Jhal Jhao |
80 suits |
|
B & R Division |
Awaran |
3 suits |
|
|
Mashkai |
3 suits |
|
|
Jhal Jhao |
5 suits |
GO/NGO/Private Enterprise, etc. involvement in Energy, Transport and Communications Development
The condition of the infrastructure is very bad in this district, with no attention being paid in this sector. Federal as well as provincial government organisations are involved in provision of infrastructure facilities.
|
Coverage Economic Infrastructure Services |
Local Govt. |
Prov. Govt. |
Fed. Govt. |
NGO |
Internat. Donor |
Private Entr. |
||
|
Road works |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Transport (buses) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
||
|
Radio & Television |
- |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Banking/Financial Institutions |
- |
- |
xx |
- |
- |
xx |
||
|
Gas |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
||
|
Rest houses |
- |
xx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
||
|
Legend: |
- x xx |
no involvement minor involvement substantial involvement |
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Conclusion and major Development Issues
Economic infrastructure and communication services are highly deficient in the district. Not a single kilometer of metalled road exists in Awaran. Rail- and airways are also non-existent. However, the district is connected to other parts of the province through shingle roads. Electricity, a prerequisite of industrial and agricultural development, is not available in the whole district.
The district is out of range of the transmission of the Radio Pakistan and the Pakistan Television. Telecommunication facilities are available to a fraction of the population only. Postal and banking services are not up to a satisfactory level.
It is imperative to develop economic infrastructure and communications in the district if the real benefits of establishment of a new district have to be transferred to the grass-root level. Otherwise this move will just satisfy some ulterior political motives.