Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan’s development cannot be achieved without the progress of Balochistan, stressing that the federal government remains committed to addressing the province’s unique development challenges through continued investment, improved governance and greater educational opportunities.
Addressing participants at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, the prime minister said Balochistan’s vast geography, scattered population and difficult terrain require a different development approach than Pakistan’s other provinces.
Welcoming participants from across the province, Shehbaz Sharif said they were not only representatives of Balochistan but of Pakistan as a whole.
“You are all representing Pakistan here,” the prime minister said, adding that Islamabad belongs equally to the people of Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
‘Pakistan Cannot Prosper if Balochistan Is Left Behind’
The prime minister said genuine national development would only be possible when every province shares equally in the country’s progress.
He said Balochistan, despite being Pakistan’s largest province by area, has the smallest population, making the delivery of public services significantly more expensive because communities are spread across vast and remote regions.
“Pakistan’s development is not the development of one province alone. If Punjab develops while another province remains behind, that is not Pakistan’s progress. The country’s prosperity depends on the development of all four provinces,” he said.
He assured participants that the federal government would continue supporting Balochistan’s development and would leave “no stone unturned” in addressing the province’s needs.
PM Recalls Federal Support for Balochistan
Highlighting previous federal initiatives, Shehbaz Sharif said the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award recognised Balochistan’s unique circumstances by increasing its financial share.
He said Punjab had voluntarily contributed approximately Rs11 billion annually under the arrangement, describing the decision as an expression of national solidarity rather than a favour.
The prime minister also referred to several ongoing initiatives, including the solarisation of around 27,000 agricultural tube wells, construction of the Karachi–Chaman dual carriageway and additional federal funding for development schemes, saying they reflected the federation’s continued commitment to the province.
Mastung Attack and Fight Against Terrorism
During his address, the prime minister expressed sorrow over the recent terrorist attack in Mastung in which Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and a government official were martyred.
He paid tribute to members of the judiciary, police, armed forces and other law enforcement agencies who have lost their lives while combating terrorism.
According to Shehbaz Sharif, around 90,000 Pakistanis have been martyred in the country’s fight against terrorism.
He said that India was supporting terrorist groups targeting Pakistan and said terrorism, which had significantly declined by 2017-18, later resurfaced due to what he described as an organised conspiracy.
Afghanistan Must Prevent Use of Its Soil
The prime minister said Pakistan continues to engage the Afghan interim government, urging it to prevent terorist organisations from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.
He said peace in the region requires effective action against terrorist groups operating from across the border.
Governance Reforms to Continue
Responding to a question from participant Abid Saleem of Quetta, the prime minister said the federal government was extending its transparency and governance reforms beyond Islamabad.
He said improved tax enforcement enabled the Federal Board of Revenue to recover around Rs800 billion in previously unpaid taxes during the last financial year without imposing new taxes.
According to the prime minister, similar reforms are being pursued in coordination with provincial governments.
Kachhi Canal Project
In response to a request regarding the Kachhi Canal, Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government has allocated Rs368 billion in the current budget for water storage projects, including the canal, and pledged to expedite work on it.
Education and Opportunities for Balochistan’s Youth
Answering another question from Khalida Yousaf of Chagai, who requested laptops for students in Balochistan, the prime minister said the province continues to receive preferential treatment under federal education programmes.
He said Balochistan’s quota in laptop and scholarship schemes is higher than that of the other provinces and confirmed that 100,000 laptops were distributed nationwide on merit during the previous year.
The prime minister also said nine Daanish Schools are being established across Balochistan to expand access to quality education for deserving students.
‘Every Citizen of Balochistan Must Feel Equal’
Concluding his address, Shehbaz Sharif said development should reach every district, town and village of Balochistan.
He said every resident should feel that the federal and provincial governments are equally committed to their welfare, education, healthcare and economic prosperity.
Calling for national unity, the prime minister urged people from all four provinces to work together for Pakistan’s development and to collectively defeat terrorism.
