Balochistan Cabinet Takes Historic Decisions, Approves Laws to Resolve Missing Persons Issue Permanently

Quetta: The 22nd meeting of the Balochistan provincial cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, during which several historic and far-reaching decisions were taken, including what the government termed a permanent resolution of the missing persons issue.

The cabinet approved the **Balochistan Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Rules 2025** and the **Balochistan Prevention of Detention and Radicalization Rules 2025**. Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that different groups had long been politicizing the issue of missing persons, but the provincial government had now buried this propaganda permanently through effective legislation.

Under the newly approved framework, investigations of suspects will be carried out at designated interrogation centers under the supervision of authorized police officers. Family members of suspects will be informed and allowed meetings. The cabinet also approved the **Balochistan Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025**, aimed at strengthening prosecution and ensuring the protection of complainants and witnesses in terrorism-related cases.

The chief minister said that good governance is only possible through the effective enforcement of laws, adding that the government will ensure strong follow-up of cases at the official level. He termed the approval of key laws and rules by the cabinet a major achievement of the provincial government.

The cabinet expressed satisfaction over **merit-based recruitments through online tests in the Finance Department** and decided to gradually digitalize recruitment processes in all provincial departments to promote transparency and merit.

Among other important decisions, the cabinet approved the **abolition of the Religious Affairs Department**, with its employees to be adjusted in other departments. The cabinet also approved the establishment of **two new divisions, Pishin and Koh-e-Suleman**, while deciding that **Ziarat will be administratively attached to Loralai**. Approval was also granted for the creation of **Municipal Committee Karbala in district Pishin**.

The cabinet approved the **evaluation policy for law officers** and amendments to the **grant-in-aid policy of the Minority Affairs Department**. It also took an important decision regarding child labor, ruling that **children under the age of 16 cannot be subjected to forced labor**.

The **Higher Technical Education Department** was declared an essential service. The cabinet decided to verify academic credentials of contract teachers across Balochistan. Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti assigned the **Chief Minister Inspection Team** the task of degree verification and directed that **FIRs be registered against fake degree holders**, with the verification process to begin from **Naseerabad and Dera Bugti**.

The cabinet agreed to include the **national curriculum as part of the provincial curriculum from the academic year 2026–27**. It also approved the launch of the **Chief Minister Academic Excellence Program for Quality Teachers Support**, under which mathematics, science, and English teachers will be recruited on an ad hoc basis for middle, high, and higher secondary schools.

Additionally, the cabinet discussed the establishment of a **food street from Saleem Complex to Imdad Chowk and from Taxi Stand to Liaquat Square**, and formed a committee to review the proposal and its feasibility.

Concluding the meeting, the chief minister said that these decisions reflect the government’s commitment to transparency, merit, and effective governance, and will help restore public trust in state institutions.