Natural Resource Exploitation Threatening Environmental Peace in the Conflict Prone Balochistan, Pakistan.

Abstract

Balochistan, the southwest province of Pakistan, is blessed with abundant natural resources, such as minerals, coal, oil, and natural gas. Unfortunately, these resources are being exploited at an exponential rate at various levels causing grace consequences for the environment of the province. This research investigates the complicated connection between natural resource (NR) extraction and environmental insecurity in Baluchistan, Pakistan, along with analyzing the extent environmental degradation threatens environmental peace and accounts for a comprehensive assessment of local community viewpoints. The Greed and Grievance theory proposed by Collier and Hoeffler (2004) provides a full understanding of the theoretical perspective of this research. The theory claims that conflicts might be motivated by underlying political, social, or ethnic grievances or by pecuniary goals. The study includes a purposeful sample of 400 respondents from varied genders, educational levels, and income strata. The sample size was determined using Cochran's formula (1963), which ensured a 95% confidence level with a +5 margin of error. The questionnaire implemented in the study was adapted from Semenza et al. (2011) and modified to answer study questions and aims. The study was carried out systematically, and the results were generated by the well-known Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS Statistics V.25) which were analyzes quantitatively. The preliminary findings of the study point to a complex link between resource exploitation and environmental degradation. The unequal distribution and unfair compensation of resources cause resentment among locals resulting in conflict. Furthermore, climate-related catastrophes, including floods and heatwaves, are a concern. This study also clarified the intricate relationship between these two important elements and offered insightful information on how different demographic groups see different things. This is true for both sexes and all educational levels, pointing to a widespread perception in Baluchistan that just compensation is still elusive. The study's conclusions are consistent with the theory of greed and retaliation, providing factual support for its use in assessing disputes resulting from the exploitation of natural resources. The paper emphasizes the policy significance of these findings, arguing for inclusive governance and resource management techniques to reduce conflict and build environmental peace in Baluchistan. The research links the effects of climate change with conflicts in Baluchistan. The research provides insight into mitigating the climate challenges in Baluchistan, which eventually help to resolve local conflicts.