Questions Mount Over World Bank’s Rs14 Billion BLEP Spending in 8 Balochistan Districts

QUETTA: Serious concerns have emerged over the utilisation of more than **Rs14 billion** approved by the World Bank for the **Balochistan Livelihoods Enhancement Project (BLEP)**, as ground realities in eight districts appear inconsistent with official claims of progress.

According to government documents, a major portion of the funds—allocated for **Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Chagai, Sherani, Pishin, Mastung, Zhob and Nushki**—has already been spent, even though the project duration extends until **February 2026**. However, residents, local representatives, and affected communities say that the development promised under BLEP is not visible on the ground.

The project claims to have improved the lives of more than **40,000 households**, but many locals report that support was not delivered uniformly. Several deserving families were excluded from surveys and assistance, while allegations have surfaced that some **non-eligible individuals** received benefits.

Serious questions are also being raised about **fund utilisation, beneficiary selection, and transparency**, with observers noting a stark mismatch between documented results and actual conditions in the targeted districts.

Public debate has intensified over whether better performance and transparency were seen under **former Project Director Rab Nawaz**, or if the **current PD, Jabbar**, has brought any real improvement. Growing concerns over financial management and the project’s true impact have fueled calls for an **independent investigation** into BLEP’s expenditures and outcomes.