ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has called for an objective review of Balochistan’s administrative evolution, emphasising that any discussion on the historical status of Lasbela must rely on authentic records rather than contemporary provincial boundaries.

In a detailed public statement, the minister said that the modern map of Balochistan does not reflect the complex geopolitical landscape of the past, urging historians and analysts to separate ancient administrative realities from present-day demarcations.

He said the region now known as Balochistan did not historically exist in its current constitutional framework. Instead, the territory comprised distinct political entities, including the Khanate of Kalat, the princely states of Lasbela, Kharan, and Makran, alongside regions administered directly by the British crown. Lasbela itself emerged as an independent ruling entity in the eighteenth century under the Jam dynasty, maintaining a distinct identity well until its post-independence integration into Pakistan.

Jam Kamal says modern map of province does not reflect complex geopolitical landscape of past

Addressing the historical relationship between Lasbela and Kalat, the minister clarified that while political and territorial agreements fluctuated over time, Lasbela consistently functioned as a sovereign princely state rather than a subsidiary district of Kalat. During the colonial era, the British treated Kalat, Lasbela, Makran, and Kharan as separate protectorates, expanding their footprints incrementally through treaties and leases, such as the 1879 Treaty of Gandamak, which brought Quetta, Pishin, and Sibi under the British control.

The post-independence era brought further structural adjustments. After acceding to Pakistan, Lasbela initially retained its autonomy, eventually joining the Balochistan States Union from 1952 to 1955. Following the implementation of the One Unit scheme, Lasbela was placed under Kalat division. However, a significant administrative shift occurred in December 1960, when Lasbela was detached from Kalat and merged with Karachi to form the Karachi-Bela division.

This administrative bond with Karachi lasted until 1972, when Lasbela was reverted to Kalat division.

The minister also touched upon the contested history of Ormara, noting that archival accounts reveal shifting revenue and political claims among Kalat, Makran, and Lasbela.

He noted that modern documentation supports Ormara’s early historical association with Lasbela before subsequent governance reforms absorbed it into the Makran administrative structure.

The current provincial boundaries of Balochistan were only solidified following the dissolution of the One Unit system and the subsequent restoration of provinces in 1970. The minister concluded his assessment by reiterating that meaningful historical debates must respect documented facts and the true sovereign heritage of these regions, warning against the practice of projecting modern borders onto the historical timeline.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2026