Balochistan Assembly: Development Fund Corruption Occurs at Departmental Level, Not by MPAs, Says Opposition Leader

Quetta: Opposition Leader in the Balochistan Assembly Mir Younus Aziz Zehri has said that allegations of corruption in development funds should not be directed at Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), claiming that any mismanagement occurs at the departmental level.

Speaking during the assembly session on the budget for the fiscal year 2026–27, Zehri said that the widely held perception that development funds are misused by MPAs is “incorrect” and that lawmakers are being unfairly blamed.

He stated that MPs only provide suggestions for development schemes, while implementation and execution are handled by government departments. “If there is corruption, it happens within departments, not at the level of elected representatives,” he said.

The opposition leader criticized the budget, saying that no major development project had been included for Balochistan and that the allocated development budget of Rs206 billion was insufficient for the province’s needs.

He also alleged that the federal government had imposed a cut of up to Rs63–94 billion on Balochistan’s budget, though he acknowledged that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had managed to reduce the proposed cuts through negotiations.

Zehri said that in comparison, the budget of a single department in Punjab exceeds Balochistan’s development allocation, highlighting what he described as financial imbalance between provinces.

He further demanded that ongoing development schemes be properly funded and called for equal distribution of education sector funds across all districts, expressing concern that resources may be directed toward selected areas.

On law and order, he noted that substantial funds continue to be allocated for security each year, yet the situation has not improved. He said that despite heavy spending, peace and stability have not been achieved.

Referring to government employees’ protests, Zehri urged the chief minister to engage in dialogue with teachers and resolve their issues, criticizing the use of force against protestors. He said even a schoolgirl had been affected by tear gas, which he described as unacceptable.

He also criticized delays in government recruitment processes, stating that thousands of applicants who participated in tests have still not received appointment orders despite announced vacancies.

Zehri alleged that border closures have worsened unemployment and economic hardship in Balochistan, calling for the reopening of border trade points including Chaman, Taftan, Washuk, Panjgur, Turbat, and Gwadar to boost legal trade and revenue collection.

He argued that Balochistan is unfairly blamed for security issues while its resources contribute significantly to the national economy, adding that taxation from key projects such as Saindak, Sui gas, and Hubco should be properly accounted for.

The opposition leader also announced that both federal and provincial budgets had been rejected by his party, stating that the people of Balochistan continue to face neglect in development planning and resource allocation.