Equitable development of Balochistan is sought: PM for dialogue over legitimate grievances
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited Balochistan’s political leaders and stakeholders to a “grand dialogue” on the province’s grievances, saying the government was ready to address all legitimate concerns but there could be no justification for taking up arms.
Addressing the Balochistan National Workshop, the prime minister said militants, Fitna al-Khawarij and foreign-backed elements were fuelling terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while security forces were battling them at great cost.
“Whatever happened in the past, happened. We must now sit together and hold a frank dialogue,” he said, adding that those willing to abandon violence and “correct their course” should be welcomed.
Sharif said Balochistan’s development depended on dialogue, fair resource-sharing and greater investment to overcome the challenges posed by its vast territory and difficult terrain.
“Legitimate grievances must be addressed, but there is no justification for picking up a gun,” he said, condemning the killing of labourers and attacks based on identity.
He said the proposed dialogue was not intended merely to allow the government to present its position, but to listen to participants and the people of Balochistan.
He said Balochistan’s Baloch and Pashtun communities shared a proud history of courage, hospitality and tolerance, recalling that Baloch leaders, including Qazi Muhammad Isa, Mir Jafar Khan Jamali and Akbar Bugti, had chosen to join Pakistan.
The events and circumstances that followed, he added, were now part of history and the province’s issues should have been resolved through dialogue.
Sharif said Balochistan’s vast mineral and natural wealth required federal-provincial cooperation, capital and expertise to unlock its potential.
He said the government was working with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on construction of the Karachi-Chaman N-25 highway, with the federal government allocating Rs415 billion for the project.
“These are the resources of the people of all four provinces being spent on Balochistan,” he added.
He also offered another Rs100-200 billion for the Quetta-Chaman highway but warned that militant attacks could derail development in the province.
Sharif described Gwadar Port as a key regional hub capable of handling 100,000-tonne cargo ships and termed the China-funded Gwadar Airport a major boost for Balochistan.
Responding to a demand from Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, he said 22,000 agricultural tubewells had been converted to solar power under a Rs70bn scheme, with the federal government contributing Rs40billion.
He said increased federal funding under the NFC Award and Punjab’s Rs11billion annual contribution to Balochistan reflected the equal stake of all four provinces in national development.
During a question-and-answer session, the prime minister said Daanish Schools were being established in nine Balochistan districts to provide children in underserved areas with access to quality education.
He also directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to visit Quetta and resolve the issue of gas load-shedding in Balochistan during the winter months.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said Rs200billion of the Rs1 trillion PSDP had been earmarked for Balochistan.
He said 650km of roads had been built in the province under former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while 43 workers had been killed during construction of the Quetta-Gwadar highway.
Sharif said the unity demonstrated by the nation during the recent “Marka-e-Haq” had shown what could be achieved when the country stood together.
“We should sit together today and have a frank dialogue. That is how a way forward will emerge,” he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026