QUETTA: A provincial assembly committee on Wednesday advanced the Balochistan Whistleblower Protection Bill 2026 for final approval, bringing the proposed law designed to shield citizens who expose government corruption and administrative misconduct one step closer to enactment.
The Standing Committee on Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) conducted a detailed and clause-by-clause review of the bill before recommending its submission to the house for approval.
The legislation aims to provide legal protection to individuals who disclose information in the public interest regarding corruption, abuse of authority and administrative irregularities in government affairs. The committee members reviewed provisions offering incentives and reward mechanisms for individuals who provide credible, verified information.
The committee also examined measures to penalise false, malicious or baseless complaints. The proposed law seeks to ensure citizens can report authentic complaints to relevant authorities without fear of reprisal, retaliation, harassment or discrimination.
Syed Zafar Ali Agha, the committee chairman who presided over the meeting, noted that providing legal protection to whistleblowers acting in good faith would strengthen accountability in official matters and help establish an effective system for identifying the misuse of authority.
“The objective of the legislation is not only to prevent corruption but also to develop a fair and transparent system that safeguards citizens’ rights and enables government institutions to perform their responsibilities more effectively,” Mr Agha said.
He stressed the importance of thoroughly reviewing every provision to ensure the law remains practical, effective and aligned with the public interest.
Following the deliberations, the committee recommended submitting the bill to the house for further consideration and approval.
Committee members Mir Jahanzeb Mengal and Shahida Rauf, Parliamentary Secretary for S&GAD Abdul Majeed Badini, Assembly Special Secretary Abdul Rehman and other relevant officials attended the meeting.
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026
