QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet has decided to introduce sweeping reforms in the education and healthcare sectors to enhance service delivery and also approved the integration of the federal Levies force into the Balochistan Levies administrative framework, aiming to bolster provincial control and coordination.

The two-day cabinet meeting, which concluded on Wednesday, discussed 30 agenda items and took many important decisions to protect the interests of the people and provide maximum facilities to the common man.

Spokesman for the Balochistan government Shahid Rind, while briefing the media on the decisions taken by the cabinet during its meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, said that the ministers gave their nod to the reforms in the education and health sectors which were badly affected due to negligence of the previous government and the authorities concerned.

The chief minister directed the ministers for both departments to prepare comprehensive recommendations and plans for the reforms to improve their working and performance.

Committee formed for integration of federal, provincial Levies forces

“The cabinet has decided to form a committee, headed by Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, to determine the future of federal Levies. Provincial ministers Sardar Sarfaraz Domki, Sardar Abdul Rahman Khetran and Noor Muhammad Dummar would be members of the committee,” Mr Rind said.

He said cabinet had approved the Child Marriage Prevention Bill, 2024, aimed at preventing underage marriage and protecting the rights of children in the province. The bill had been awaiting cabinet approval for a long time.

The Domestic Violence Amendment Bill, 2023, was also approved to end violence against women and protect their rights.

The cabinet decided to conduct interviews for the appointment of the chairman and members of the provincial Zakat committee, rather than making direct appointments, to ensure a more transparent and merit-based selection process.

The meeting also decided to hike the renewal and issuance fees for private security companies operating in the province. It approved the establishment of the Balochistan Forensic Sciences Agency and a dedicated women’s police station in Sibi.

The cabinet approved the establishment of the Balochistan Pharmacy Council and made Quran education compulsory for Muslim students.

The meeting was informed that the Balochistan government is sending a special plane for the safe return of Balochistan’s students stranded in Kyrgyzstan due to riots. The spokesman said the provincial government had received data of 95 students for repatriation from Kyrgyzstan.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2024