The United States has a broad, deep, and long-term partnership with the people of Balochistan Province spanning the education, economic, health, and rule of law sectors and beyond.
Responding to Disasters
In response to the devastating 2022 floods, the United States is working through United Nations and NGO partners to provide food, cash, shelter, nutrition services, and other services to flood-affected individuals in Balochistan. For example, as of November 1, the United States, through the World Food Programme (WFP), has provided approximately 3,000 metric tons of food to 371,000 people in Balochistan. WFP also has provided specialized food to 37,200 malnourished mothers and children and distributed $391,000 in cash to repair agricultural infrastructure and communal assets. The United States is also funding nutrition services through UNICEF and the World Health Organization to communities in Balochistan.
Between 2018 and 2020, the United States provided assistance to thousands of households in Balochistan affected by drought-like conditions, malnutrition, and snowfall emergencies.
Strengthening Education
For many years, the United States has created educational opportunities for residents in Balochistan and built academic connections between Pakistan and the U.S. For example:
- The U.S. Embassy’s English Access Microscholarship Program has provided more than 650 teenagers in Balochistan with the opportunity to learn English and strengthen leadership skills. Similarly, 50 young adults from Balochistan will take part in the United States’ English Works! Program to improve English and entrepreneurial and technical skills.
- Since 2011, 83 English teachers from Balochistan have participated in the U.S.-funded Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program, a six-week professional development experience at a U.S. university.
- The United States, through USAID, improved children’s reading skills in Balochistan by providing classroom materials and training teachers. The United States also continues to partner with the Pakistani government to offer scholarships for talented youth to earn degrees at 30 partner universities in Pakistan, including three in Balochistan.
- During COVID 19, the United States supported internet connectivity for 142 government schools in Balochistan, facilitating online learning and establishing Accelerated Learning Program centers for out-of-school Afghan refugee and Pakistani host community children.
Promoting Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding
The 37,000-member Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) is the largest network of U.S.-funded exchange alumni in the world. There are two PUAN chapters in Balochistan, in Quetta and Gwadar, with a total of approximately 1,400 members.
The U.S. provides grants so PUAN members can use skills gained in the United States to support their communities. Balochistan alumni have established an environmental club, led dialogue on gender-based violence, and boosted the IT and public speaking abilities of Quetta youth.
Fostering Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship
The United States increased agricultural incomes in districts along the Afghan border by providing farmers with grants and training for irrigation, crop and livestock improvement, land leveling, orchard establishment, wool shearing, and grading.
Through the EntrePowered program for women in Balochistan, the United States has helped female entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses, boosting their ability to generate income.
Under an agreement with Pakistan’s National Highway Authority, the United States rehabilitated a 111-kilometer section of the Kalat-Quetta-Chaman road, stimulating local business growth.
Supporting Healthy Communities
The United States, through USAID, trained public sector health care workers in Balochistan on family planning, which strengthened the capacity of community midwives to share safe maternal and child survival practices.
The United States has supported the renovation of 41 health facilities in Balochistan in the past year, benefiting both Afghan refugees and their Pakistani host communities. The United States also supported mobile clinics in remote areas of Chaman, Pishin, Chagai, Quetta, and Loralai that provided nutrition services to 88,100 children.
Bolstering Rule of Law
The United States supports Balochistan through police assistance, counternarcotics, corrections, and rule of law programs that have totaled $72 million since 2002. The United States has provided equipment like vehicles and safety gear; funded the construction of 54 Frontier Corps outposts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border; supported major infrastructure projects for the Ministry of Interior’s 50th Squadron Air Wing in Quetta; and provided three C-208 Cessna Caravan airplanes to that Air Wing. The United States, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, has also trained more than 4,800 police officers and 660 forensics specialists in Balochistan.
In summer 2022, the U.S. signed an agreement with the Government of Balochistan to construct Balochistan’s Police School of Investigation, which will be the first of its kind in the province. The United States also launched an effort to develop a comprehensive training program for the Excise, Taxation, and Anti-Narcotics Department of Balochistan, including specialized counternarcotics courses.
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