• PM Shehbaz says province’s grievances must be addressed through ‘grand dialogue’, resources first belong to locals
• Field Marshal Munir stresses peace, youth empowerment to unlock Balochistan’s potential
ISLAMABAD: The country’s civil and military leaders on Friday called for a dual approach of addressing Balochistan’s legitimate grievances through dialogue while ensuring security and development, with both stressing that peace is essential for unlocking the province’s economic potential.
Addressing participants of the Balochistan National Workshop, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government was committed to the province’s equitable development and prosperity. He added that the province’s legitimate grievances should be addressed through dialogue rather than violence.
He said Balochistan’s vast mineral and natural resources primarily belonged to its people and should be developed in a manner that benefited them first.
The prime minister said Balochistan’s vast geographical area presented genuine challenges in providing roads, education, healthcare and other facilities, requiring a fair distribution of available resources.
The prime minister called for a “grand, frank and meaningful dialogue” to address outstanding issues, while rejecting violence and the targeting of workers, teachers, engineers and others contributing to the province’s development.
He said the government had allocated Rs415 billion for the Karachi-Chaman N-25 project, describing it as a potential link between peace and development.
However, he warned that terrorism remained a major obstacle to infrastructure development, stressing that development and security had to move forward together.
PM Shehbaz said Balochistan’s share in federal schemes had been kept 10 per cent higher than its population-based share as an expression of national solidarity.
He also recalled the 2010 National Finance Commission Award, under which the provinces agreed to increase Balochistan’s share from the federation.
Highlighting Gwadar’s strategic importance, he said the government had taken steps to increase the utilisation of Gwadar Port, including a decision to route 60pc of federal imports of essential goods and machinery through the port.
He also highlighted the federal government’s contribution to the solarisation of agricultural tubewells in Balochistan, saying around 20,000 systems had already been installed.
‘Hostile elements’
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir told Balochistan’s political leadership and notables that foreign-sponsored proxies were being used by hostile elements to destabilise the province, obstruct development and create a wedge between the state and its people, state-run APP reported.
He said Balochistan and Pakistan had a “shared future” and stressed that peace and stability were fundamental to unlocking the province’s economic potential and attracting investment.
The army chief also highlighted the potential of Balochistan’s youth, saying empowering them and providing opportunities for their participation in national progress was central to sustainable development.
He urged provincial notables and civil society leaders to counter hostile propaganda and project the province’s potential and aspirations. He said the destiny of Balochistan rested in the hands of its people.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to peace, development and prosperity and pledged to support the state and armed forces against threats to peace and stability.
Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026
