Pakistan Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) are two areas of Pakistan that have long been disregarded in terms of infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth unemployment, poverty, and food security. The people who live in these places face serious socioeconomic difficulties due to this neglect. Presently, the most important thing that society wants is to draw attention to the level of neglect and its effects on the people of POJK and GB.
Since Pakistan gained independence, GB has not had political representation in the national parliament. Despite its long history of fighting to eliminate this disparity with other regions, GB has no representatives in either of the two houses of the Pakistan Assembly.
In addition to being a fundamental right, education is also essential for socioeconomic progress. However, a serious lack of attention has been paid to the education sector in POJK and GB. The Pakistan Education Statistics 2021–22 study states that there are notable regional differences in the availability of basic amenities in Pakistani schools, including boundary walls, drinkable water, and restrooms. GB and POJK are the two areas with the least access to these essential services. One of the biggest obstacles to education in these areas is the poor state of the schools’ infrastructure.
Since many schools lack physical spaces, pupils are frequently forced to learn in temporary classrooms or outside. This impacts education standards and deters parents, particularly females, from enrolling their kids in school. Because of this, these areas’ literacy rates are still lower than the national average.
Additionally, POJK and GB are severely lacking skilled teachers. The current teachers’ frequent underpayment and lack of training hinder their ability to deliver high-quality instruction. The creation of Daanish schools in POJK and GB is one of the government’s efforts to address these problems, although it is insufficient to meet the population’s expanding educational needs.
Another significant concern in POJK and GB is youth unemployment. POJK has twice the unemployment rate of other provinces in Pakistan. Many young people are forced to relocate abroad or to other parts of the country for better possibilities due to a lack of job opportunities. This brain drain further hampers the growth of these areas. For women and youth in particular, the situation is grave. In POJK, the female labour force participation rate is 7.9%, whereas the national average is 23%. Comparably, POJK has a youth unemployment rate of 27%, which suggests structural injustices in the labour market.
In addition to having an impact on people’s financial security, a lack of work opportunities also feeds into societal problems like drug misuse and criminality. Because of the highly educated workforce in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, the situation in GB has marginally improved. Nonetheless, many young people still have trouble finding respectable professions and are compelled to accept low-paying, pointless positions. For young people to be prepared for the workforce, the government must increase employment opportunities and offer vocational training.
Poverty is a widespread problem in GB and POJK. According to the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, the percentage of people living below the poverty line in these areas is far greater than the national average. The multidimensional poverty index, which considers factors like living standards, health, and education, also reveals high poverty levels in these areas. Numerous reasons contribute to the high rates of poverty, such as inadequate access to essential services, poor infrastructure, and a lack of economic possibilities.
Numerous households in POJK and GB depend on subsistence farming, which presents various obstacles, including low agricultural production and restricted market accessibility. The government has made a few efforts to try to reduce poverty, like the Interest-Free Loan Programme, but these haven’t been enough to address the underlying causes of poverty.
One of the main obstacles to development in POJK and GB is the absence of essential infrastructure. The areas have inadequate water supplies, bad road systems, and restricted access to electricity. The treacherous weather and steep terrain make these challenges worse. The government has declared several infrastructure development initiatives, including constructing the Shounter tunnel and beginning a bus service between POJK and GB.
Nevertheless, these projects have not had much impact on the ground due to delays, financing problems, and the awarding of contracts to outside contractors who stifle local minor contractors. In addition to impairing citizens’ quality of life, a lack of infrastructure impedes economic activity and prevents people from accessing basic services.
The insufficient healthcare services in POJK and GB do not meet the population’s requirements. There aren’t many healthcare facilities in the area, and the ones there are frequently understaffed and badly equipped. The infrastructure for healthcare is still poor overall. The lack of healthcare services seriously impacts the inhabitants’ health and well-being. Many people must travel great distances to receive medical care, and the expense of such care is frequently unaffordable. The government must invest in healthcare infrastructure to guarantee that all citizens of POJK and GB access high-quality healthcare services.
One of the main issues in POJK and GB is food security. Since 1970, the areas have significantly relied on government subsidies for essentials like wheat. The federal government’s pressure on the GB Chief Minister to declare a cut in wheat subsidies has resulted in widespread demonstrations and a rise in food poverty. The areas struggle to become food-self-sufficient due to their untamed landscape and scarcity of arable land.
Wheat was a cheap star at 20 PKR per kilogramme (or about 7 cents in USD). However, the government later raised the price to 36 PKR (13 cents), a plot twist. An eighty percent jump! To alleviate the food problem, the government must encourage regional agricultural output and reinstate subsidies. Giving farmers access to modern farming techniques and facilitating market access can accomplish this. The general growth and well-being of the people living in POJK and GB depend on ensuring food security.
Their neglect in several areas, including education, youth unemployment, poverty, infrastructure, healthcare, and food security, has significantly impacted the socioeconomic growth of POJK and GB. The government must act swiftly and decisively to resolve these problems and guarantee that the citizens of POJK and GB have access to necessities and chances for a higher standard of living. Pakistan can encourage equitable and sustainable development for all its residents by investing in these areas and tackling their particular difficulties.
