Drawing parallels with the exploitative projects of China in Balochistan, Baloch activists termed the international investment by a Canadian firm, Barrick Gold, in the province a “double standard” by the west and urged the firm to avoid investing in Balochistan in view of the human rights abuses and the deprivation of freedom of the Baloch.
The activists have accused the Pakistani Army of using financial support from international companies like Canadian firm Barrick Gold to further the genocide in Balochistan. “We have repeatedly protested the involvement of the Canadian firm Barrick Gold in the Reko Dik project and we have demanded that no aid of any kind be given to Pakistan as Pakistan is using the aid received by the international community against the Baloch,” said Dil Murad Baloch, Secretary General of the Baloch National Movement (BNM).
So far, he said, the firm has not withdrawn from this project, which is a matter of great concern. He also highlighted that western media criticizes CPEC and other exploitative projects of China in Balochistan, but when companies from western countries follow China’s footsteps in Balochistan, then it is considered positive.
“The Canadian government and Barrick Gold should avoid investing in Balochistan because of human rights abuses, Pakistan is using our resources to strengthen its colonial position by killing and dumping the dead bodies of Baloch people,” he said.