R ESE ARCH is essential for identifying community-related issues. However, research in rural Pakistan and particularly in Balochistan is bedeviled by problems.

Research has been neglected in Balochistan.Ithas been prey to unscientinc conduct, fabrication and falsification. The results obtained from such research are unreliable and invalid. Consequently, policies founded on such research are faulty and unproductive.

The Balochpopulationisisolated andscattered. Security issues that have arisen owing to the law and order situation also frustrate the researcher. The social and cultural customs of Balochistan also do not encourage a researcher to contact women directly. Thus data collection in the presence of men causes bias in the results.

Conducting research in Balochistan requires the researcher to possess cultural sensitivity, an enterprising spirit and enormous patience. For this purpose, it is recommended that researchers who are part of the target communities be employed for data collection.

This is essential as only accurate facts and figures can help the federal and provincial governments ensure succour for the people of Balochistan.

Shumaila Umer Sumalani Baloch PhD student in Malaysia