Page 3 News Worldwide: A new statement circulating on Baloch activist platforms has outlined an ambitious economic vision for what supporters describe as a future “Republic of Balochistan.” Shared under the hashtag #VisionProsperousBalochistan, the message imagines a post-independence Balochistan controlling its mineral wealth and repositioning itself as a major global trade and energy hub.
The announcement—amplified online by prominent exiled Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri—claims that once free from Pakistani authority, Balochistan would abandon the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and instead launch the World Balochistan Economic Corridor (WBEC). The proposed corridor is portrayed as a rival, future-oriented framework aimed at linking Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe through deep-sea ports, energy transit routes, mineral supply chains, and advanced logistics systems.
According to the statement, WBEC would be built on “stability, economic freedom, and shared prosperity,” offering what its promoters call transparent and secure opportunities for international investors and multinational corporations. The vision emphasizes the region’s significant rare-earth mineral reserves, which Baloch nationalist groups argue have long been exploited without benefiting the local population.
The claims come amid ongoing conflict between Pakistani security forces and Baloch separatist groups, who accuse the state of political repression, extrajudicial killings, and resource extraction without consent. Pakistan rejects these allegations and considers separatist movements a national security threat.
While the WBEC project remains entirely aspirational, its public promotion reflects a growing effort by Baloch nationalist leaders to internationalize their cause and position an independent Balochistan as a strategic player in global trade. Whether such a vision materializes remains deeply uncertain, but its appearance highlights the intensifying ideological and geopolitical contest surrounding the region’s future.
