CM Balochistan Emphasizes Public Trust and Development Progress in Meeting

Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, has emphasized that resolving public issues will strengthen mutual trust between the government and the people. Providing facilities to the common man remains the government’s top priority, and it is essential for the government machinery to work with dedication. He made these statements during a meeting on Monday, where he presided over a session discussing the progress of the Public Sector Development Program and governance improvements.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shuaib Noshiwani, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary for Development and Planning Hafeez Abdul Basit, Additional Chief Secretary for Home Zahid Saleem, Principal Secretary Baber Khan, and the secretaries of all government departments. The session focused on the speed and completion of development projects and reforms in the service delivery system.

Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan briefed the meeting on governance improvements and public service delivery, mentioning that out of 3,400 closed schools in Balochistan, 1,400 have now reopened. He further stated that after the recruitment of teachers under the SB scheme, 1,800 more schools will be operational by the end of this month, and the remaining 200 schools will be reopened in the third phase. Secretary of Education, Saleh Mohammad Nasir, informed that orders for the appointment of teachers selected on merit will be issued by April 18.

The Chief Minister adopted a tough stance on absentee government employees, stating that habitual absentees would be sent home. Expressing his displeasure, he highlighted that many officers in rural areas are absent from their offices, causing the public significant hardship. He stated that this situation was unacceptable and instructed local government representatives to monitor the attendance of teachers, doctors, and employees in line departments. He also called for a report on absenteeism and governance flaws, which should include recommendations.

Additional Chief Secretary for Planning and Development, Hafeez Abdul Basit, provided an update, stating that following the directives issued in previous progress review meetings under the Chief Minister’s leadership, expenditures and progress on development projects had accelerated. By the next month, 90% of the development projects are expected to be completed.

CM Sarfaraz Bugti noted that for the first time in Balochistan, there has been significant progress in ongoing development projects. He emphasized that funds will be released in bulk for projects that have been delayed for years, ensuring their completion within the current fiscal year, thus removing their long-term financial burden. He added that delays due to departmental bottlenecks often lead to increased project costs, which needs to be addressed.

The Chief Minister issued clear instructions to blacklist companies working on projects that are delayed, and warned departments that fail to utilize allocated resources on time would face strict accountability. He reiterated that policy formulation is the government’s role, but implementation is the responsibility of officers.

During the meeting, the CM also directed the introduction of a quality public transport system at the government level and urged the swift completion of the Mangi Dam project to start water distribution. He confirmed that next year’s budget will align with public needs, urging all departments to consider the common man’s requirements while planning. Additionally, he declared a firm stance against the wastage of development resources and the culture of scheme theft and sale. He affirmed, “The culture of ‘parachute schemes’ is over. Only projects that align with the public interest will be part of the budget and will be included only after legal approvals.”