Balochistan Assembly Discusses Budget, Corruption, Employment, and CPEC Amid Growing Youth Unemployment

Quetta:The ongoing session of the Balochistan Assembly saw a series of debates and discussions on the government’s policies, budget allocation, corruption, education, employment, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the pressing issues faced by the province’s youth.

**Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman**, a prominent member, raised serious concerns about the allocation of the provincial development budget. He pointed out that despite Balochistan having the largest population in the country, it receives the lowest share of the development budget. “Non-developmental spending should not be reduced, rather the focus should be on controlling corruption,” he stated. He also questioned the government’s practice of holding major programs in private hotels, asking, *”If these events are being held in private hotels, what is the purpose of building government buildings?”*

Maulana Rehman stressed the need for stringent anti-corruption measures and proposed the introduction of a comprehensive bill to tackle this issue. He further called for a reduction in the expenses related to government vehicles, saying, *”We do not have the right to live like Mughal emperors.”*

Addressing the alarming rise in unemployment, he revealed that around 3 million young people in Balochistan are unemployed. The government, according to Rehman, is providing jobs to only 6,000 youth while effectively rendering 2.5 million others jobless by closing border trade. He questioned why Islamabad does not offer the same financial assistance to Balochistan’s youth as external agencies like RAW, implying that the state is inadvertently pushing its youth into rebellion.

Maulana Rehman also raised pertinent questions regarding the **China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)**, emphasizing that while **Gwadar** is touted as the “jewel of our forehead,” the second phase of CPEC seems to be missing in Balochistan. *“Why is development not taking place under the CPEC banner in Balochistan?”* he asked, criticizing the lack of progress in the region despite the massive investments.

On the other hand, **Member of Assembly Samad Gorgij** lauded the government for presenting a public-friendly budget. However, he highlighted that the allocated funds for education need to be spent effectively. He raised concerns about the widespread closure of schools and absenteeism among teachers, urging the government to address these issues immediately.

**Assembly Speaker** also directed that the Director General of the **Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)** be summoned to the session today to provide clarity on various ongoing investigations.

**Kher Jan Baloch**, another assembly member, stressed that the budget should be a document aimed at solving the people’s problems. He pointed out that the allocated funds were insufficient to address the vast issues faced by the province. *”The youth are yearning for progress, and skill-based education must be provided,”* he said. Baloch further questioned whether the budget includes plans for the development of industrial zones, urging the government to align Balochistan with the modern world by adopting current global standards.

As the assembly session continues, it is clear that the government faces mounting pressure to address the socioeconomic challenges in Balochistan, particularly the dire situation of youth unemployment, the need for effective utilization of funds, and the long-awaited promises of development under CPEC.