• Shehbaz stresses need to sit together to solve issues, defeat terrorists
• Says Balochistan will get Rs250bn from federal budget for development programme
• Warns India that Pakistan will never allow violation of its water rights, reaffirms support for armed forces

QUETTA: As violence in restive Balochistan esc­a­lates, leading to a steep decline in the security situation, Prime Minister She­hbaz Sharif on Saturday emphasised the need for talks to resolve the issues faced by the province, saying people “misled” by terrorists must be brought back on board.

“We must make efforts to bring back the people who were misled [by the terrorists] onto the wrong track,” he said while spe­aking at the ‘Balochistan Grand Jirga’ in Quetta. He added that economic or social injustices cannot ha­p­pen in Balochistan dur­ing his rule and stre­ssed the need for collectively solving the issues through talks.

“If there are any concerns, brothers need to sit together to solve those issues,” he said. “The blood-thirsty terrorists who are against Pakistan’s success and welfare must be stopped. I want to ask what the gaps [there] are that we can fill with your suggestions [to solve problems],” Dawn.com quoted him as saying.

“The terrorists [in Balochistan] must not be tolerated by the public, government or armed forces,” he added.

It may be noted that the security situation in Balo­c­h­istan has worsened in rec­ent months, as militants, long involved in a low-level insurgency, have stepped up the frequency and intensity of their attacks.

According to the state-run APP, the premier said all provinces were like bro­thers and would equ­ally share resources. The federal government was spending Rs70 billion on the solarisation project in Balochistan, he said, adding that Rs150 billion would be diverted for the highway N-25 in Balochistan.

These funds would be acquired from the amount which the government had been collecting due to a decrease in the price of petroleum products in the international market. Last month, PM Shehbaz announced that instead of passing on the relief of reduced oil prices to consumers, the government would use the money for the reconstruction of the N-25 Highway and completion of Phase-II of the Kachhi Canal project in Balochistan.

The prime minister said the government would allocate Rs1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) this year and Rs250 billion from the fund would be allocated for development projects in Balochistan.

He recalled that during his tenure as the Punjab chief minister, he had allocated a 10 per cent quota for the students of Balochistan in different schemes launched by Punjab, including laptop schemes and scholarships in foreign and provincial educational institutions.

In the past, Rs2 billion were allocated for a cardiac hospital in Baloch­istan, he said. He further recalled that Punjab had agreed to give part of its funds from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to Balochis­tan in view of its developm­ent needs due to its large area. In today’s value, the funds diverted to Balochis­tan amounted to Rs160 billion, the PM explained.

The NFC award was signed in Lahore in 2010 after three days of discussions among the national leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, then-prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, he added.

He said a lot of development projects were undertaken in Balochistan during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure as the PM, while President Zardari initiated Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan for the province.

Talking about incidents of terrorism in Balochistan, he said terrorists were blood thirsty and were against the progress of Pakistan and were undertaking heinous acts at the behest of foreign elements.

He said terrorists in Balochistan were foreign agents who had resorted to barbarity but they would not be tolerated by the government and armed forces of Pakistan.

Referring to the latest incident of violence in Sorab, he said the country could not make progress without peace.

Staff College address

In a separate address, PM Shehbaz stressed the need for continued synergy between all elements to address challenges and for the pursuit of national interests as he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the armed forces in their mission to protect the nation.

He made these remarks while addressing the faculty and graduating officers during his visit to the Command and Staff College, Quetta.

In his speech, the PM outlined a comprehensive vision for national resilience. “Pakistan’s threats are no longer limited to traditional warfare,” he said, adding, “Our military, political, and economic institutions must be equally prepared to face hybrid challenges, from border security to economic sabotage.”

Speaking about Pahalgam tensions with India, he said Pakistan responded firmly, diplomatically and militarily.

“India tried to make water a weapon, but we have drawn a red line. Pakistan will never allow its water rights to be violated,” he added.

He praised the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar for their strategic foresight, asserting that Pakistan’s armed forces and people stand united against any aggression.

“The recent tensions have only boosted the morale of our nation and forces,” he remarked.

He noted that when he assumed office for a 16-month tenure, the country was facing severe challenges, but none were insurmountable. “Our focus remains on the economy, reforms, and counterterrorism,” he said.

He pointed to significant achievements since the beginning of economic reforms in March 2024. “Tax revenue has increased by 28 per cent compared to last year. The introduction of a faceless assessment system at Karachi Port has improved transparency. Inflation has dropped from 38% to single digits. The Pakistani rupee is now stable,” he added.

He also stressed the government’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, crediting tough decisions and anti-smuggling measures for economic stabilisation. “We are introducing modern technologies, including crypto regulation and blockchain, to align Pakistan with the global financial landscape,” he announced.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong ties with countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, and the Gulf states. “

The PM commended the Pakistan Armed Forces during the hostilities with India and praised their bravery, professionalism, and sacrifices. Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, acting Balochistan governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and high-ranking military and civil officials attended the event.

With input from APP

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025