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QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan on Monday noted that 70 per cent of schemes under the Balochistan Sustainable Development Initiatives (BSDI) had been completed, while work on the remaining projects was being accelerated.
He directed authorities to ensure the timely release and utilisation of funds to avoid delays.
He was speaking at the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference, which reviewed key administrative and development matters.
The agenda of the conference included BSDI projects, the out-of-school children enrolment campaign, measures to improve the quality of life, monitoring of development schemes, and the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
Balochistan chief secretary says work on remaining projects stepped up
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Zahid Saleem, commissioners, deputy commissioners and other senior officials.
The chief secretary urged government officers to regard themselves as servants of the public and to prioritise resolving citizens’ issues with honesty and integrity.
He emphasised that the fundamental duty of officials was to facilitate the public, ensuring timely solutions to problems as well as strengthening trust in government institutions.
‘281,000 children enrolled’
He praised the performance of commissioners and deputy commissioners in successfully implementing the out-of-school children enrolment drive.
He noted that 281,000 children had been enrolled this year, calling it a milestone achievement in the education sector.
He also ordered stricter measures against poppy cultivation, stressing the need to eradicate it completely from the province.
Officials informed the meeting that more than 95pc of poppy cultivation had already been eliminated, with efforts underway to clear the remaining areas.
The chief secretary instructed that essential commodities must be made available to citizens at government-notified rates under all circumstances, with strict monitoring to curb inflation.
He emphasised that grievances raised in open katchehris (courts) should be resolved on a priority basis, particularly those related to drinking water, education and healthcare. He added that BSDI schemes must focus specifically on addressing these fundamental gaps in public service delivery.
Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026
