CM Sarfraz Bugti Announces Free Housing and Full Educational Support for Families of Martyred Journalists

Quetta: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced a landmark initiative to provide free housing to low-income media workers and families of martyred journalists, along with full state-sponsored education for their children at top global institutions.

While laying the foundation stone of the Media Housing Scheme in Quetta, the Chief Minister delivered an emotional address, declaring that the families of journalists who were martyred across Balochistan will receive **free flats**, and the government will fully fund their children’s higher education—whether at Lawrence College, Aitchison, Oxford, or Harvard.

Bugti outlined the structure of the housing scheme, explaining that **three-bedroom flats** will be available on installments for those who can afford them, whereas **two-bedroom flats** will be allotted **free of cost** to low-income workers such as cameramen and support staff through a merit-based ballot. He instructed officials and contractors to begin work immediately and vowed to hand over keys to journalists by **January 1, 2027**.

Responding to criticism and online mockery labeling him a “Twitter Sardar,” Bugti said he is not a beneficiary of conflict but an affected party.
“I am not the beneficiary of war; I am the affected one. I have carried the bodies of 280 of my people. I am still supporting 280 widows and their children,” he said.
He asserted that his political capital comes from “standing with Pakistan and sacrificing lives,” not from social media campaigns.

The Chief Minister urged journalists not to view the initiative as a favor, but as their rightful due. He encouraged them to highlight government shortcomings, uphold truth, and reject blackmailing tactics. He also commended government spokesperson Shahid Rind and other officials for their efforts, reiterating that no injustice to poor or junior media workers will be tolerated.