Written by: Abdul Ghaffar Bugti, Dera Bugti
According to 2004 statistics, gas worth Rs. 470 billion was being extracted monthly from Dera Bugti.
Since then, several new gas reserves have been discovered. Recently, 34 new gas wells were identified in the Uch area.
This region is considered one of the richest areas, not only in Pakistan but also globally.
If we look at the politics of this region, the elected MPAs and MNAs from here have always held prominent ministerial positions.
These include major ministries in federal and provincial governments.
In the current government, the elected MPA from Dera Bugti, Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, is the Chief Minister of Balochistan, while MNA Mian Khan Bugti holds the position of Federal Secretary for Petroleum.
Despite such political influence and the presence of abundant resources, Dera Bugti has not been able to establish a single maternal and child health center to date.
Due to the lack of this basic facility, 2 to 3 women and their newborns lose their lives during childbirth every month.
In 2024 alone, 30 women died during childbirth.
During the tenure of Mir Ahmadan Bugti, Rs. 350 million were approved for the establishment of a maternal and child health center. However, there is no record of where this money was spent.
The condition of women in the Bugti tribe residing in Dera Bugti is extremely deplorable.
In the tribal system, women are considered half-human. They are not allowed to step outside their homes or pursue education.
Child marriage is common, with girls being married off at the ages of 13 or 14.
These young girls do not have access to proper healthcare and, after giving birth to 6 or 7 children, become physically weak.
On the day of childbirth, when these women, with their fragile bodies, try to deliver a child, they often lose their lives in the process.
This silent genocide has been ongoing for years, and the government appears to have completely failed in stopping it.
Despite governmental claims, no progress has been made in establishing maternal and child health centers.
The doctors posted in the area are often absent.
Recent statistics reveal that three women died during childbirth this month alone, and more than 30 women lost their lives last year.
In tribal society, discussing women’s rights is considered taboo.
Women are treated as inferior beings, their births are not celebrated, and their deaths are considered insignificant.
Human rights organizations and the government are urged to take immediate action to stop the systematic elimination of women in Dera Bugti.
Maternal and child health centers should be established, and the healthcare system should be made functional to ensure the safety of Bugti women and their children.
