Gwadar

Gwadar (Baloch and Urdu: گوادر; Arabic: جوادر‎) is a port city on the Arabian Sea in coastal Balochistan. Over the centuries Gwadar has been under the control of various regional and colonial states and since 1958 it has been under the administration of Pakistan. It is the district capital of Gwadar District in the province as well as its winter capital.

Gwadar is strategically located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman. The city's strategic, warm-water, deep-sea Gwadar Port was completed in 2007.^[2] The port is 14 metres (46 ft) deep and handles the largest cargo ships to Pakistan.^[2]The city is emerging as a trade hub and a transit for Chinese oil and timber imports and transshipments.^[2] The city has also been taking an increasing role in China's String of Pearls.^[2]

Gwadar is one of the few planned cities in Pakistan (others being Faisalabad, Jauharabad, and Islamabad), which have been developed from scratch under an urban master plan. Before development, the town was a fishing village.

Grammatical works on Balochi

• Axenov, Serge. 2006. The Balochi language of Turkmenistan: A corpus-based grammatical description. Uppsala, Sweden: Acta Uppsala Universitet.

• Barker, Muhammad A. & Aqil Khan Mengal. 1969. A course in Baluchi. Montreal: McGill University.

• Collett, Nigel A. 1983. A grammar, phrase book, and vocabulary of Baluchi. Abingdon: Burgess & Son.

• Farrell, Tim. 1989. A study of ergativity in Balochi.' M.A. thesis: School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London.

• Farrell, Tim. 1990. Basic Balochi: An introductory course. Naples: Instituto Universitario Orientale, Dipartimento di Studi Asiatici.

• Farrell, Tim. 1995. Fading ergativity? A study of ergativity in Balochi. In David C. Bennett, Theodora Bynon & B. George Hewitt (eds.), Subject, voice, and ergativity: Selected essays, 218-243. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

• Gilbertson, George W. 1923. The Balochi language. A grammar and manual. Hertford: Stephen Austin & Sons.

• Gilbertson, George W. 1925. English-Balochi colloquial dictionary. Hertford: Stephen Austin & Sons.

• Jahani, Carina. 1990. Standardization and orthography in the Balochi language. Studia Iranica Upsaliensia. Uppsala, Sweden: Almqvist & Wiksell Internat.

• Jahani, Carina. 2000. Language in society: Eight sociolinguistic essays on Balochi. Uppsala, Sweden: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis.

• Korn, Agnes. 2009. Marking of arguments in Balochi ergative and mixed constructions. In Simin Karimi, VIda Samiian & Donald Stilo (eds.) Aspects of Iranian Linguistics, 249-276. Newcastle upon Tyne (UK): Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Balochi Latin alphabet

The following Latin-based alphabet was adopted by the International Workshop on "Balochi Roman Orthography" (University of Uppsala, Sweden, May 28–30, 2000).^{[citation needed]}

Alphabetical order:

a á b c d ď e f g ĝ h i í j k l m n o p q r ř s š t ť u ú v w x y z ž ay aw

(33 letters and 2 digraphs)

A/a amb (mango), angúr (grape), bagg (camel-caravan), sardar (Head man-nobleman), namb (mist)

Á/á dár (wood), abba (father), árth (flour), bahá (price), pádh (foot), ághah (coming), áhán (them)

B/b (be) bawar (snow, ice), bám (dawn), bágpán (gardner), baktáwar (lucky)

C/c (che) cattr (umbrella), bacc (son), kánc (knife), Karácí, Kulánc, Cákar, Bálác

D/d (de) dard (pain), drad (rainshower), dárman (medicine), wádh (salt)

Ď/ď is same as Ř/ř (ře) so this latter is preferably used to simplify the orthography.

E/e eš (this), cer (below), eraht (end of date harvest), pešraw (leader, forerunner), kamer (ploughshare)

F/f (fe) To be used only in loan words where its use is inevitable, like Fráns (France), fármaysí (pharmacy),

G/g (ge) gapp (talk), ganokh (mad), bágh (garden), bagg (herd of camels), pádagh (foot), Bagdád (Baghdad)

Ĝ/ĝ (like ĝhaen in Perso-Arabic script) Only in loan words and in eastern dialects: Ghair (Others), Ghali (Carpet), Ghaza (Noise).

H/h (he) hár (flood), máh (moon), koh (mountain), mahár (rein), hon (blood)

I/i (i) istál (star), ingo (here),gir (take), kirr (near),

Í/í (í) ímmán (faith), šír (milk), pakír (beggar), samín (breeze), gálí (carpet)

J/j (je) jang (war), janagh (to beat), jing (lark), ganj (treasure), sajjí (roasted meat)

K/k (ke) Kirmán (Kirman), kárc (knife), nákho (uncle), gwask (calf), kasán (small)

L/l (le) láp (stomach), gal (joy), ghall (party, organization), gull (cheek), gul (rose)

M/m (me) mát/más (mother), bám (dawn), camm (eye), mastir (leader, bigger).

N/n (ne) nán/nagan/naghan (bread), nokk (new, new moon), dann (outside), kwahn (old), nákho (uncle)

O/o (o) oštagh (to stop), ožnág (swim), roc (sun), dor (pain), socagh (to burn)

P/p (pe) Pádh (foot), šap (night), šapád (bare-footed), gapp (talk), haptád (70)

Q/q (qú) Used in loan words, like Qábús

R/r (re) Rustum (a name), rekh (sand), baragh (to take away), giragh (to get), garragh (to bray), gurrag (to roar), šarr (good), sarag (head), sarrag (a kind of donkey's braying)

Ř/ř (ře) řák (post), řukkál (famine), gařř (urial), guřř (last), guřřag (to chop).

S/s (se) sarag (head), khass (someone), kasán (little), bass (enough), ás (fire)

Š/š (še) šap (night), šád (happy), meš (sheep), šuwánag (shepherd), wašš (happy, tasty).

T/t (te) taghard (mat), tahná (alone) thás (bowl), kilítt (kay), masítt (mosque), battí (lantern)

Ť/ť (ťe) ťung (hole), ťíllo (bell), baťť (cooked rice), baťťág (eggplant).

U/u uštir (camel), šumá (you), ustád (teacher), gužn (hunger), buz (goat)

Ú/ú (ú, sounds like the "oo" in English word "root") úrt (thin), zúrag (to take), bizú (take), dúr (distant)

V/v (ve) used in loanwords only, like in the English word service, very.

W/w (we) warag (food, to eat), wardin (provision), dawár (abode), wádh (salt), kawwás (learned), hawa (wind)

X/x (khe) Xudá (God),

Y/y (ye) yád (remembrance), yár (friend), yárah (eleven), biryání (meat in rice), raydyo (radio), yakk (one)

Z/z (ze) zarr (monay), zí (yesterday), muzz (wages), moz (banana), nazzíkk (nearby), bazgar (tenant), Zor (power).

Ž/ž (že) žand (tired), zindaghi (life), žáng (bells), pažm (wool), gažžag (to swell), gužnag (hungry), Mauz (waves).

ay (h)ayrán (surprise), ayrát (distribution), say (3), may (our), kay (who), šumay (your)

Aw/aw kawr (river), hawr (rain), kissaw (story), dawl (sort), dawr (jump), awlád (off-spring), kawl (promise), gawk (neck).

Writing system Of Balochistan people

Before the 19th century, Balochi was an unwritten language. The official written language was Persian, although Balochi was still spoken at the Baloch courts. British linguists and political historians wrote form with the Latin script, but following the independence of Pakistan, Baloch scholars adopted Urdu Arabic script. The first collection of poetry in Balochi, Gulbang by Mir Gul Khan Nasir was published in 1951 and incorporated the Urdu Arabic Script. But it was much later that Sayad Zahurshah Hashomi wrote a comprehensive guidance on the usage of Urdu Arabic script and standardized it as the Balochi Orthography in Pakistan. This earned Sayad Hashomi the title of 'the Father of Balochi'. Sayad's guidances are widely used in Eastern and Western Balochistan. In Afghanistan, however, Balochi is written in a modified Arabic script based on what is used for Pashto.

Dialects Of balochistan

Western (Rakhshani)

• Sarhaddi Rakhshani
• Afghan Rakhshani
• Turkmen Rakhshani
• Panjguri Rakhshani
• Kalati Rakhshani
• Kharani Rakhshani
• Sarawani

Southern (Makrani)

• Coastal
• Lashari
• Kechi
• Karachi

Eastern or Suleimani Dialect

• Bugti (Bambore)
• Marri-Rind (Sibi)
• Mazari-Domki (Upper Sindh, DG Khan Region)
• Mandwani & Jatoi dialects of Western Sindh

Grammar Of Balochistan

The normal word order is subject–object–verb. Like many other Indo-Iranian languages, Balochi has split ergativity. In the present tense or future tense, the subject is marked as nominative, and the object is marked as accusative. In the past tense, however, the subject of a transitive verb is marked as oblique, and the verb agrees with the object.

Consonants Of Balochistan

The following consonants are common to both Western Balochi and Southern Balochi.^[4] The place of articulation of the consonants /s/, /z/, /n/, /ɾ/ and /l/ is claimed to be alveolar in Western Balochi, while at least the /ɾ/ is claimed to be dental in Southern Balochi. The stops /t/ and /d/ are claimed to be dental in both dialects.

Geographic distribution of Balochi and the otherIranian languages

	Labial	Dental	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatoalveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Stop	p b	t d		ʈ ɖ			k ɡ	ʔ
Affricate					t͡ʃ d͡ʒ
Fricative			s z		ʃ ʒ[cn 1]			h[cn 2]
Tap			ɾ	ɽ[cn 3]
Nasal	m		n
Approximant	w		l			j

Vowels Of Balochistan

The Balochi vowel system has at least eight vowels: five long vowels and three short vowels.^[2] The long vowels are /aː/, /eː/, /iː/, /oː/, and/uː/. The short vowels are /a/, /i/ and /u/. The short vowels have more centralized phonetic qualities than the long vowels.

Southern Balochi (at least as spoken in Karachi) also has nasalized vowels, most importantly /ẽː/ and /ãː/.

Independent Balochistan

Under the partition agreement, reached shortly after Mountbatten published his June 3 Plan, most of Balochistan had already joined Pakistan, by treaties or tribal referendum, but the Khan of Kalat, a state which was around 23% of modern Baluchistan, wanted to be the ruler of an independent, albeit land locked state. Eventually a Standstill Agreement was reached between the two parties and the British Viceroy. Following the talks, a communique was issued on August 11, 1947 stating that:

1. The Government of Pakistan recognizes Kalat as an independent sovereign state in treaty relations with the British Government with a status different from that of other princely states.
2. Legal opinion will be sought as to whether or not agreements of leases will be inherited by the Pakistan Government.
3. Meanwhile, a Standstill Agreement has been made between the Government of Pakistan and the Khan of Kalat.
4. Discussions will take place between Pakistan and Kalat at Karachi at an early date with a view to reaching decisions on Defence, External Affairs and Communications(currency was not mentioned as it was understood that the Pakistani Rupee was to be used in Kalat, as a successor to its previous currency,the British Indian Rupee).^[5]

Parliamentary elections were held in the state, in which the Kalat State National Party won a majority. However, Baloch(or Kalat) nationalists insist that the government forced the Khan to sign theInstrument of Accession on March 27, 1948. The move was condemned by the Kalat parliament, which saw itself weakening as a legislative body, and, in July 1948, the Khan's brother, Prince Abdul Karim, led the first armed revolt against the Pakistani government. The prince was originally a powerful governor of parts of Kalat, but that position ended with accession to Pakistan. Many Former British Colonies abolished Principality of the Colonial Era

Modern Baloch nationalism

Baloch nationalism in its modern form began in the form of the Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan (Organisation for Unity of the Baloch) based inMastung in the 1920s, led by Yousaf Aziz Magsi, Abdul Aziz Kurd and others. The aim of the group was to establish political and constitutional reform in the State of Kalat; end of British imperialism; abolition of the sardari-jirga system; and for the eventual unification of all Baloch lands into an independent state.^[5] Simultaneously with the formation of the Anjuman, Baloch intellectuals in Karachi formed a nationalist organisation, called theBaloch League.

In February 1937, the Anjuman reorganised and became the Kalat State National Party, carrying on the Anjuman's political agenda of an independent united state of Balochistan.^[5] The party was dominated by more secular-minded, anti-imperialist and populist elements, such as Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Naseer and Abdul Aziz Kurd. When parliamentary elections were held in the State of Kalat, the party was the largest winners with a considerable majority.

Baloch nationalism

Baloch nationalism is a movement which claims that the Baloch people, an ethno-linguistic group mainly found in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are a nation. The movement propagates the view that Muslims are not a nation (the opposite of the concept behind the creation of Pakistan) and that ethnic loyalty must surpass religious loyalty.

The Baloch nationalist movement's demands have ranged from greater cultural, economic and political rights, to political autonomy, to outright secession from Pakistan and the creation of an independent state of Balochistan. The movement is secular and heavily influenced by leftist Marxist ideology, like its other counterparts in other parts of Pakistan and India, leaning towards anti-Islamism.

In Pakistan, there have been several uprisings by Baloch nationalists that have all been suppressed by the Pakistan military.

The Baloch nationalist movement includes not only speakers of the Balochi language, but Baloch leaders have tried to absorb the Brahui people of Balochistan, the ancient-most civilization of Balochistan, in the movement too as land populated by the Brahuis is vital for a separate Balochistan to survive.^[1]

The Baloch nationalist movement claims to receive considerable support from the Baloch diaspora in Oman, the UAE, Sweden, Norway, and other countries. Pakistan has repeatedly made claims that the Baloch nationalists have received funding from India,although these have been refuted by India and the US.

Beauty of Balochistan

Baluch in Oman

The Baluch in Oman have maintained their ethnic and linguistic distinctions. The Southern Baluch comprise approximately 22% of the country's population. The traditional economy of Baluch in Oman is based on a combination of trade, farming and semi-nomadic shepherding

Baluchi music in Balochistan

Folk music has always played a great role in Baluchi traditions. Baluchi music belong to the same branch of Iranian music performed by many other Iranian peoples including Persians, Kurds,Lurs, Tajiks and others. Traditions like the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation by singing lullabies to children and praising warriors also have a significant role in Baluchi music traditions. The fact that both men and women participate in folk music reflects on the pre-Islamic significance of folk music in Baluchi culture. Many years of invasions, wars and later adopted religious values have prevented Balouchi music from prevailing further in the 21st century. However, a Swedish folk band, Golbang and Padik with the lead singer Rostam Mirlashari originally fromZahedan & Lashar in Balochistan, has made progress in introducing Balouchi folk music to the Western world. The most commonly used instruments in Balouchi folk music are tanbur, long-necked lutes. Lutes have been present in Mesopotamia since the Akkadian era, or the third millennium BCE. The dohol, a large cylindrical drum with two skin heads, is the principal accompaniment for the surna, an ancient Iranian woodwind instrument that dates back to the Achaemenid Dynasty (550-330 BCE). The ney is also commonly played, using single or double flutes. The suroz, a Baluchi folk violin, is also commonly played. Other Baluchi musical instruments include the tar and the saz. Baluchi music is also influenced by Sindhi folk.

Geographic distribution In Balochistan

The total population of ethnic Baluch people is estimated to be around 15 million worldwide. However, the exact number of those who are Baluch or claim to be of Baluch ancestry is difficult to determine. As of 2010, the Baluch are 4.97% of Pakistan's 177 million people.^[1] They make up 2% of Afghanistan's roughly 30 million people^[31] and 2% of Iran's estimated 77 million.^[32]

Major ethnic groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the surrounding areas, 1980. The Baluch are shown in pink.

Baluch ancestry is also claimed in the neighboring areas that adjoin Baluch majority lands. The Brahui are also considered Baluch but they speak theBrahui language. Despite very few cultural differences from the Baluch. Many Baluch outside of Balochistan are also bilingual or of mixed ancestry due to their proximity to other ethnic groups, including the Sindhis, Saraikis and Pashtuns. A large number of Baluch have been migrating to or living in provinces adjacent to Balochistan for centuries. In addition, there are many Baluch living in other parts of the world, with the bulk living in the GCCcountries of the Persian Gulf. The Baluch are an important community in Oman, where they make up a sizable minority.

Many Baloch over the years have migrated to Punjab for its lush green fertility and they can be found in large numbers in South Punjab, Central Punjab and in Lahore but most of them identify themselves now as Punjabis. There is a small population of Baluch in several Western countries such asSweden and Australia. Some Baluch settled in Australia in the 19th century; some fourth-generation Baluch still live there, mainly in the western city ofPerth.

Baluchistan: A province with beautiful culture

Pakistan is a blessed country with a blend of all the beautiful colors of God. The culture and traditions of Pakistan are unique and have their own worth. All the five provinces though have brotherly relations but also have distinct qualities from each other. One of the provinces of Pakistan is known as Balochistan. The balochis are mainly those people who live in Balochistan and speak Balochi language which is derived from the family of Irani languages.

All the other provinces of Pakistan Balochistan are also having in its own cultural significance. The origin of Balochi culture can be traced back to Mesopptomia. The tribal laws of Balochistan play an important role in establishing the code of conduct that allows people to live and work within the premises of their cultural and traditional life.

More About Balochistan Government

In common with the other provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan has a parliamentary form of government. The ceremonial head of the province is theGovernor, who is appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the provincial Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, the province's chief executive, is normally the leader of the largest political party or alliance of parties in the provincial assembly.

The unicameral Provincial Assembly of Balochistan comprises 65 seats of which 4% are reserved for non-Muslims and 16% exclusively for women. The judicial branch of government is carried out by the Balochistan High Court, which is based in Quetta and headed by a Chief Justice. For administrative purposes, the province is subdivided into 30 districts

Governor of Balochistan

The Governor of Balochistan is the head of the provincial government in Balochistan, Pakistan. The post was established by President Yahya Khanon 1 July 1970, unlike the other provinces where the governorship had been maintained since the country's founding in 1947. The governor is designated by the Prime Minister, and is normally regarded a ceremonial, non-partisan office. However, throughout Pakistan's history the powers of the governor were vastly increased each time the Provincial Assembly was dissolved or martial law declared. Officeholders charged with governor's rulewere Akbar Bugti (1973-1974), Ahmad Yar Khan (1974-1977), Rahimuddin Khan (1977-1984), and Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal (1999-2003).

List of Governors of Balochistan

#	Governor	Term start	Term end	Political affiliation
1	Riaz Hussain	1 July, 1970	21 December, 1971	Independent
2	Ghous Bakhsh Raisani	28 December, 1971	13 April, 1972	Independent
3	Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo	29 April, 1972	15 February, 1973	National Awami Party
4	Akbar Khan Bugti	15 February, 1973	3 January, 1974	Jamhoori Watan Party
5	Ahmad Yar Khan	3 January, 1974	5 July, 1977	Independent
6	Khuda Bakhsh Marri	5 July, 1977	18 September, 1978	Independent
7	Rahimuddin Khan	18 September, 1978	12 March, 1984	Military
8	F.S. Khan Lodhi	12 March, 1984	21 July, 1984	Military
9	Khushdil Khan Afridi	22 July, 1984	30 December, 1985	Military
10	Musa Khan	30 December, 1985	12 March, 1991	Military
11	Mir Hazar Khan Khoso	12 March, 1991	12 July, 1991	Independent
12	Gul Mohammad Khan Jogezai	13 July, 1991	19 July, 1993	Independent
13	Abdul Rahim Durrani	19 July, 1993	19 May, 1994	Military
14	Imran Ullah Khan	19 May, 1994	8 April, 1997	Pakistan People's Party
15	Mir Abdul Jabbar	8 April, 1997	22 April, 1997	Independent
16	Miangul Aurangzeb	22 April, 1997	17 August, 1999	Pakistan Muslim League (N)
17	Syed Fazal Agha	17 August, 1999	12 October, 1999	Independent
18	Amir-ul-Mulk Mengal	25 October, 1999	29 January, 2003	Independent
19	Abdul Qadir Baloch	1 February, 2003	11 August, 2003	Military
20	Owais Ahmed Ghani	11 August, 2003	5 January, 2008	Independent
21	Zulfikar Ali Magsi	28 February, 2008	Incumbent	Pakistan People's Party