Balochistan’s Core Problem Is Not Backwardness but a Wrong Narrative, Says CM Bugti

LAHORE: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that the province’s fundamental problem is not backwardness but what he described as a “wrong narrative,” stressing the need to distinguish between facts and perceptions.

Addressing participants at the National School of Public Policy in Lahore on Monday, the chief minister said Balochistan’s history was not being presented accurately in the contemporary era. He said development disparities existed in every province of Pakistan, but such disparities did not justify taking up arms against the state. Similar remarks by Bugti regarding development, perceptions and separatist narratives were also reported in his recent address to the 21st National Workshop Balochistan.

Bugti said the dream of breaking up Balochistan could never succeed. Referring to Article 5 of the Constitution, he said it required unconditional loyalty to the state. He added that the provincial government was listening to young people at every level in an effort to reduce the gap between the younger generation and the state.

The chief minister said the government was always ready to hold talks with political stakeholders, but negotiations could not be held with those who had taken up arms.

He stressed that Balochistan’s issues needed to be understood in their historical and factual context, arguing that an accurate assessment of the province’s situation was not possible on the basis of what he described as a misleading narrative.

Bugti also said historical facts regarding Balochistan’s accession to Pakistan should be examined in their proper context. He referred to the Khan of Kalat’s book and said historical sources should be studied to understand the province’s history accurately.

The chief minister also spoke about concerns within the bureaucracy regarding postings in Balochistan, saying some bureaucrats from Punjab were reluctant to serve in the province.

He questioned how officers could properly understand ground realities without visiting the field and observing conditions themselves.

Bugti said awareness of local conditions was essential for understanding Balochistan’s problems and the needs of its people. He stressed that policy-making and administrative decisions should take into account ground realities, public needs and the actual challenges faced by the province.