Public Sector Development Programme: ‘Balochistan receiving higher development allocations’

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Friday said that Balochistan was a top priority for the federal government and the province was receiving proportionately higher development allocations under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Responding to a question by Senator Jan Muhammad on progress of the M-8 motorway, the minister said the approximately 890-kilometre — a part of the western alignment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — was aimed at improving connectivity and spurring economic activity in Balochistan.

The minister said several sections of the motorway had already been completed and were operational, while the remaining stretches, including the Hoshab–Awaran and Awaran–Naal sections, were under construction.

The government is targeting completion of the remaining 314 kilometres by December 2026, subject to availability of funds and improvement in the security situation.

Reaffirming the government’s development focus, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that when development spending was assessed relative to population, Balochistan was receiving a higher PSDP allocation than Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026