QUETTA: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring peace and prosperity in Balochistan, calling the province the geographical heart of the country.
Addressing political leaders, parliamentarians and provincial ministers in Quetta on Thursday, he emphasized that national unity and strong federal-provincial cooperation were vital to overcoming Balochistan’s security and economic challenges.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces, Police, Frontier Corps and civilians in the fight against terrorism. He condemned Fitna-al-Khawarij and expressed regret over the support extended to terrorists by certain neighbouring countries.
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Praising military leadership, he lauded Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his professional excellence, recalling his decisive command during the events of May 2025. “The government and the military will not rest until terrorism is completely uprooted,” he declared.
Reflecting on the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, PM Sharif recalled the consensus achieved under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gilani.
He noted that Punjab had voluntarily contributed Rs 11 billion annually from its share to Balochistan, amounting to Rs 175 billion to date, in recognition of the province’s vast distances and unique needs. He added that committees were currently working on a new NFC Award to ensure equitable resource distribution and strengthen the federation.
The PM laid the foundation stone for the expansion of Karachi–Quetta–Chaman National Highway into a modern four-lane carriageway. He said the Rs 300 billion project would be funded through savings from fluctuating international petroleum prices, describing it as a gift from the people of Pakistan to Balochistan.
Once dubbed the “Killer Highway” due to frequent accidents, the Prime Minister announced its expansion to reduce traffic incidents and provide safer travel facilities to the people of Balochistan.
He said that five Danish schools would be established from Killa Saifullah to Turbat, offering free, world-class education to underprivileged children. The initiative will later be expanded across the province to educate the new generation to play a vital role in development and in eliminating terrorism, he added.
The PM expressed satisfaction over the successful conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power, ensuring sustainable energy for farmers. Utilizing 400 million dollars from the World Bank following the 2022 floods, the government continues to construct houses across the province, with inaugurations planned for flood-affected families, he said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed that former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had always prioritized Balochistan’s prosperity. He urged all stakeholders to adopt a joint strategy to ensure that the journey of development reaches every corner of the province.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Dr. Malik Baloch, and Maulana Abdul Wasey.
Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Abdul Aleem Khan, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, Balochistan Provincial Ministers Mir Saleem Khosa, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, and Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Provincial Advisor Nawabzada Zareen Magsi, Members of Assembly, Senator Abdul Qadir and representatives of all the political parties were also present.
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