QUETTA: Balochistan has changed a lot and is ready to play its role in the economic stability of the country as all routes to development and progress are passing through the province, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri on Friday.

He said this while speaking at the concluding session of a two-week national security workshop held for the first time by the National Defence University (NDU) of Islamabad in the provincial capital. The workshop was attended by 56 parliamentarians, academics, tribal elders, bureaucrats, members of the civil society and journalists.

On Thursday, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Javed Qamar Bajwa was in attendance and gave detailed answers of the questions from the participants of the workshop. Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Asim Bajwa and NDU Director General Maj Gen Shamraz Khan were also present on the occasion.

National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister retired Lt Gen Naseer Khan Janjua, senior diplomats and security experts also spoke on various topics at the workshop.

Chief Minister Zehri said that steps were being taken for economic stability and these would not just help the common men but also help in improving the security situation of the country.

He claimed that by holding a national security workshop in Quetta — NDU had helped the province’s leadership to understand the affairs with reference to national security.

He added that the workshop would also be helpful in evolving strategy regarding security and policy making.

“The Baloch have always been here but unfortunately bad governance, negative thinking, adoption of wrong policies disturbed the law and order of the province,” said Nawab Zehri.

“Increasing unemployment paved the way for foreign agencies and their paid agents to deceive our youth and used them against the country,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2017