Potentials and Constraints Sibi
Sibi district’s overall state of development is comparable to and in certain respects better then Balochistan taken in general. It has a good human resource base which could be qualitatively improved within a short period by better management of existing educational services. Its land under plough is small, but it is endowed with a large potential arable area. The industrial sector has not made much headway during the last 50 years, but the prospects of development are good. It has a good network of roads and railways. The social infrastructure is weak, but quick improvements are possible. Thus, briefly speaking the district has made progress in most spheres, the achieved level is, however, far short of what was possible, but prospects of faster development in future are quite bright.
Major constraints, apart from the natural resource factor which is taken as given, the district’s development is hampered by:
These constraints are financial as well as managerial. To these must be added the social constraints that place restriction on economic participation of women or nearly 50 percent of the district’s population.
For a clearer picture of the district’s state of development and its potentials and constraints, the main conclusions of the previous chapters are presented below.
Land Resources
The district’s potential area available for cultivation is 85,316 hectares, but only 25,500 hectares are brought under plough, due to scarcity of irrigation schemes. Increases in irrigation facilities already identified by the Irrigation Department, can help increase the cultivated area by 50 percent in the next five to ten years, and possibilities for further development exist too. There are also vast unexplored areas which need be located, surveyed, and developed.
Demography and Housing
The district’s total population is estimated to be close to 145,000 (1995) people, of which only 30 percent is economically active. Women’s participation in economic activity is substantial, but is not recognised in official statistics.
The overall state of housing, energy, civic facilities, environment, etc. is not good. It is in fact getting worse. Rural-urban migration is increasing fasy. This development has its positive sides, as it will help facilitate the tasks of human resource development, improvement in living condition, quality of life, and more particularly the emancipation of women. The general tendency is to migrate to or near Sibi town. Harnai town is also receiving migrants from rural areas. The ongoing convergence of a widely scattered population to a few places is conducive to faster development at lower costs.
Social Organisation
The social organisation in Sibi has been undergoing a slow transformation, but its overall character is largely the same as decades ago. No improvement has taken place in the role, position, and status of women. The system of vulvar is still in vogue. Child labour is rampant and increasing.
Positive developments are the softening of parents’ attitude towards girls’ formal education; the rising trend towards a nuclear family, the decline in influence of jirga and the general awareness among the younger people of the need to break away from the tribal and orthodox system. This should evoke favourable responses to development incentives and the call for gender equality when the younger generation comes at the helm of affairs.
Government Organisation
The district has a full-fledged government organisation dealing with all administrative and developmental affairs. On the whole, Sibi is a peaceful district and the district’s administration has been effectively controlling the law and order situation. Minority groups, Muslims and non-Muslims, live in a fear free environment. There is, however, lack of coordination between provincial government departments, the federal government organisations, local bodies and NGOs. Besides, there have been problems caused by interventions of MPAs, MNAs senators etc. While the line departments and local bodies have been starved of funds, in the recent past, political representatives have been given millions of rupees which mostly have been spent very unproductively.
There is a need to establish close working relations between all government and non-government organisations. The deputy commissioner and the chairman of the district council should be the central figures in the set up. They should be able to report, at any time, what is going on in which sector, in the district, what are the district’s development problems, priorities, etc.
Productive Sector
Agriculture, livestock and forestry are the major commodity producing sectors of the district. The industrial sector is small, but has good prospects at small scale level.
The agriculture sector has good development prospects to which end increase in irrigation, introduction of high value crops, improved agricultural inputs and practices, and land development can make a substantial contribution. More money is needed for research and extension services. The water problem of the Model Agricultural Farm should be solved, or the farm should be closed. Reforestation is needed on a much larger scale. The Livestock Department needs particular attention in view of the importance of livestock in the district’s economy.
Economic Infrastructure and Communication
The district has railways, and a good network of trunk and link roads. The public transport situation within the district is not good. Overloading is common. The worst sufferers are women, who have to travel in great discomfort.
On the whole, in respect of economic infrastructure and communication this district compares favourably with Balochistan taken in general. The infrastructure is sufficient to bear a much expanded production than now. But the need for improvements is there. These include: metalling of roads; more link roads in villages, more and better vehicles for passengers, and special provisions for woman passengers.
Social Infrastructure
Education: Government education services in the district are widely criticised for their inefficiency and mis-management. Schools have been built in large numbers at inappropriate places. Student enrolment is low. Many schools do not have a teacher. There are schools without a roof. Female education is badly neglected. Schools for girls are not properly located. Higher education facilities are inadequate. In short, the education sector is in a state of disarray. In addition to the need for more educational units, there is also a need to take measures for improving the efficiency of the existing institutions. Education of girls should be given more attention. Appropriate facilities should be provided for vocational education.
Health: The health services performance is better than that of education. Though more dispensaries and basic health units are needed, priority should be given to a more efficient functioning of the existing medical units.
Drinking Water Supply: Although the population coverage with water supply schemes is one of the highest in the province, the situation leaves much to be desired. The availability of wter is an important factor in rural - urban migration. The situation which regard to sanitation is even worse. A concerted effort is required to realize improvements.
Concluding Note
The district is full of opportunities for development, to which end financial as well as managerial improvements are needed. Almost all development schemes that take place in the district, are subservient to a wider development plan at provincial level. There is a need to prepare Sibi district specific development plans as well. Alongside the developments planned as a part of the wider objective of Balochistan’s development, special development plans for Sibi district should also be made, to ensure that small regions will not be neglected. These plans should be developed and implemented with the population’s involvement. The local bodies and government line departments should be motivated to work hand in hand with the district’s common people for the district’s development.