• Premier visits Quetta to lay foundation stone of N-25 highway project; assures provincial lawmakers of peace, security
• Says government to ensure peace in Balochistan by foiling conspiracies, defeating terrorism
QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that strong cooperation between the provinces and the Centre was essential to address the economic and security challenges faced by the federating units, particularly Balochistan.
During his visit to the restive province where he was received by lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches, the premier said his government would ensure peace and prosperity in the province by thwarting conspiracies and eliminating terrorists coming from the neighbouring countries.
The government and the opposition members seemed in harmony during the PM’s visit. The spirit of cooperation was demonstrated on his arrival at the CM’s House, when Opposition Leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri and former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch accorded him a warm reception.
During the meeting, the PM said terrorists disrupting peace in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be crushed. “National unity and strong federal-provincial cooperation were vital to overcoming Balochistan’s security and economic challenges,” he added.
The PM paid tribute to the sacrifices of the armed forces, police, Frontier Corps and civilians in the fight against terrorism. He condemned the terrorist outfits and expressed regret over the support extended to terrorists by certain neighbouring countries. He also praised the military, saying, “The government and the military will not rest until terrorism is completely uprooted.”
Reflecting on the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, he recalled the consensus achieved under the leadership of Asif Ali Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gillani. He noted that Punjab had voluntarily contributed Rs11 billion annually from its share to Balochistan, amounting to Rs175 billion to date, in recognition of the province’s vast distances and unique needs. He added that committees were currently working on a new NFC Award to ensure equitable resource distribution and strengthen the federation.
“This is our duty: to work with provinces — especially those that are very distant and experiencing challenges — this is the journey of brotherhood and cooperation which we all have to take,” the premier reiterated.
“There are no two ways to go about it,” PM Shehbaz stressed.
Earlier, the PM laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the Karachi-Quetta-Chaman National Highway into a modern four-lane carriageway. He said the Rs300 billion project would be funded through savings from the international petroleum prices. Often dubbed the ‘killer highway’, the artery is a site of frequent accidents.
Last year, the government increased the petroleum levy on products by Rs8 per litre and announced that the funding would be used for building and upgrading the 815km road project, formerly known as the RCD highway. The government had allocated Rs100 billion in the current year’s budget for the project.
Five Daanish schools
According to the prime minister, the federal government will build five Daanish schools in the province to facilitate the underprivileged children and the initiative will be later expanded to other parts of the province.
The PM expressed satisfaction over the conversion of agricultural tube wells to solar power, ensuring sustainable energy for farmers. Utilising $400 million from the World Bank following the 2022 floods, the government has continued to construct houses across the province for flood-affected families, he said. The PM urged all stakeholders to adopt a joint strategy to ensure that the journey of development reaches every corner of the province.
In the same meeting, CM Bugti emphasised that due to its distinct economic, social, and geographical conditions, Balochistan requires special and sustained attention from the federation.
Highlighting Balochistan’s unique challenges, he pointed to the province’s vast geography, scattered population, and security concerns, which have made development more complex compared to other provinces.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Dr Malik Baloch, and Maulana Abdul Wasey. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq; Senate Deputy Chairman Seyddal Khan; cabinet members Ahsan Iqbal and Abdul Aleem Khan; Rana Sanaullah; Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Mir Younis Aziz Zehri; Balochistan ministers Mir Saleem Khosa, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, and Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, and others were also present.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2026
