Prominent Baloch Leader Mir Yaar Baloch and the self- declared republic of Balochistan have announced a proposed process to review and replace names and symbols associated with Pakistan and other periods of foreign rule across Balochistan.
According to the statement, the initiative is being presented as part of a broader effort to restore what it describes as Balochistan’s historical identity, national character and cultural heritage. The statement bases the position of the Balochistan on 11 August 1947, which it identifies as the foundation of the territory’s independence.
The proposed review would cover a wide range of public and state assets, including roads, highways, hospitals, airports, seaports, educational institutions, streets, squares and government buildings. It would also extend to infrastructure and commercial projects, including dams, mineral projects, gas fields, oil wells, parks, banks, resorts and other public facilities.
In Quetta and other areas, the statement specifically refers to names such as Jinnah Road, Fatima Jinnah Road and Iqbal Road, saying that such names would gradually be replaced by names linked to Balochistan’s history, geography, culture, martyrs, national leaders and historical personalities.
“The process of restoring Balochistan’s identity will begin by removing Pakistan-associated names and symbols currently present across Balochistan.”
The statement said the proposed changes were not intended as an action against any particular nation or its people, but rather as an effort to restore what it describes as Balochistan’s own national identity.
It further argued that political independence should be reflected in public institutions, cultural symbols, language, history and everyday public life. The renaming exercise, according to the statement, would therefore form part of a wider programme aimed at reconnecting younger generations with Balochistan’s historical heritage.
The statement maintained that public and state institutions should carry names reflecting the region’s own historical and cultural identity, framing the proposed initiative as a gradual process of replacing symbols associated with external rule or political domination.
The announcement comes as part of the broader political narrative advanced by Mir Yaar Baloch and the Republic of Balochistan regarding the region’s historical status and national identity.
(Inputs from Mir Yaar Baloch’s Official X)
