QUETTA:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited Governor House Balochistan where he was warmly received by Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail.
Upon his arrival at the Governor House, a smartly turned out contingent of Balochistan Police presented a guard of honour
to the prime minister, said a Governor House press release.
The meeting focused on ongoing development initiatives across the province. The governor Balochistan briefed the prime minister on the progress of various development projects.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is on a one-day visit to Balochistan where he would preside over high-level meetings focused on governance and development in the province.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, along with Federal Ministers Dr. Ahsan Iqbal, Aleem Khan, Rana Sanaullah, and prominent political leaders from Balochistan.Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the federal government’s firm resolve to ensure accelerated development of Balochistan, saying that Pakistan must pool its national resources without hesitation to bring the province at par with other parts of the country.
Addressing a ceremony to inaugurate and launch key development projects, the prime minister said the initiatives had a direct and lasting link with Balochistan’s progress. He described Balochistan as a historic province that voluntarily acceded to Pakistan, reflecting the aspirations of its political leadership and people.
“Balochistan is the largest province by land and the smallest by population, yet education, health and electricity are the basic rights of every Baloch,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that a strong federation could only be built by ensuring balanced development of all federating units.
The prime minister laid the foundation stone of the N-25 Pakistan Expressway, calling it a practical manifestation of the government’s commitment to the people of Balochistan. He directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to complete the project within one year, acknowledging the challenge but expressing confidence in timely delivery. He said many precious lives had been lost on the existing route, and completion of the expressway would significantly improve safety and connectivity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being fuelled by a neighbouring country through financial and material support. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of armed forces personnel, law enforcement agencies and civilians, and vowed that terrorism would be eliminated from the two provinces as it was in 2018.
PM Sharif said no society could progress without investing in knowledge. He announced the launch of five Daanish Schools in Dera Bugti, Sibi, Zhob, Killa Saifullah and Sohbatpur, and further announced two additional Daanish Schools in Chagai and Washuk to address the urgent needs of southern Balochistan.
He said Daanish Schools were producing doctors, engineers and globally competitive students from underprivileged backgrounds.
He also referred to the Kachhi Canal project, describing it as vital for agricultural development in Balochistan. He said the project required Rs40 billion immediately and that a final decision would be taken within the next four weeks after consultations in Islamabad.
The prime minister highlighted youth empowerment initiatives, including the laptop scheme under which 100,000 laptops were distributed on merit, with Balochistan receiving a higher share in proportion to its population. He also spoke about post-2022 flood rehabilitation, stating that significant financial assistance had been mobilised for Balochistan, including housing reconstruction and cash support to affected families.
Earlier, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, in his welcome remarks, said it was a historic day for the National Highway Authority, noting that around 40 per cent of the NHA road network lay in Balochistan, making it the “heart of the country” in terms of connectivity.
He thanked the prime minister for his special attention to infrastructure projects in the province, particularly the Pakistan Expressway from Quetta to Chaman, and said special funds had been diverted from the petroleum levy to accelerate development in Balochistan. He added that NHA was currently working on 16 projects worth Rs735 billion, with several road projects in remote areas already completed.
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said the prime minister had taken the provincial government into confidence while deciding the launch of the Pakistan Expressway, adding that national resources had been prioritised for the uplift of Balochistan.
He assured full cooperation and capacity support from the Balochistan government for timely completion of mega projects.
The chief minister also thanked the prime minister for announcing multiple Daanish Schools for the province and for providing development funds beyond Balochistan’s constitutional share.
Governor Balochistan, Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, senior military officials and representatives from different walks of life were also present on the occasion.