Minister of State for Railways Bilal Azhar Kiani reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing Balochistan’s political and economic challenges to restore peace and prosperity in the region.
Speaking in Jhelum, the minister emphasized the importance of political engagement, addressing grievances through economic empowerment, and countering terrorism as key strategies for achieving stability in the resource-rich province.
The minister highlighted that development projects have always been a focus of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. He mentioned that discussions are underway with Chinese authorities to advance the Main-Line 1 (ML-1) railway project, critical for improving Pakistan’s railway infrastructure.
Following the recent Jaffar Express incident, Pakistan Railways has enhanced train security, increased Railway Police recruitment, and upgraded security communication tools and weapons to ensure safety.
Mr. Kiani explained the two-pronged strategy to resolve Balochistan’s issues, which involves countering terrorism and activating local political representatives for political solutions and economic empowerment.
Practical measures to address grievances related to education, employment, and programs like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) are planned, with the provincial government playing a key role in implementing service delivery policies. He also highlighted the prime minister’s commitment to creating economic opportunities for Balochistan’s youth.
Regarding the ML-1 project, the minister stated that its upgradation is vital for ensuring rail safety, reducing delays, increasing speed, and enhancing overall service quality. Chinese authorities and officials have progressed in talks and prepared the initial package for the Karachi-Hyderabad segment, with work set to begin this year once agreements are finalized. He also noted that the project could have been completed earlier if the PML-N government had continued after 2018.
Mr. Kiani underscored the government’s broader efforts to strengthen the national economy and eliminate terrorism, asserting that the civil and military leaderships are united in their mission to maintain peace in the country. He also criticized certain political parties, such as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), for spreading harmful propaganda against the state.
Discussing development initiatives in the Jhelum district, the minister highlighted the construction of the 128-km Lillah-Jhelum dual carriageway and the Sialkot-Kharian-Rawalpindi motorway project. He expressed optimism about these projects’ potential to improve transport links and economic prospects in the area, specifically calling the Lillah-Jhelum dual carriageway a ‘game-changer’ for fostering new opportunities in the region.
