State of Civil Society Organisations in Balochistan (2016-17)

Abstract

Civil society, besides being an avenue of volunteer association for pragmatic efforts, is a public sphere for deliberation over issues and concerns of the citizens with the aim to safeguard against policies and decisions that are harmful to their rights and interests. Globally, civil society has now become a powerful force to influence mechanisms of decision making at various levels, ranging from UN General Assembly to a village council of elders. In Pakistan, civil society activism has been gaining momentum with every passing year; however the existing socio-economic situation, political environment and legal framework are not as friendly to their efforts as desirous. In under developed semi-tribal Balochistan, civil society is in its infancy. Civil society exists with formal and informal features throughout the province but it is widely fragmented; faced with dearth of vision, scarcity of leadership, resources and capacities. Consequently, civil society is weak and ineffective in its efforts. This research paper is a preliminary effort to find out the root causes of its weakness with the involvement of active civil society organisations, intellectuals, politicians, media persons and sensitized educated individuals. Besides exploring the presently available relevant literature, this paper is based on a series of focus group discussions and key informant interviews. In the conclusion pragmatic efforts to be undertaken by relevant stakeholders are suggested for the effectiveness of civil society. This would hopefully help further research on this topic.