Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the federal government is firmly determined to ensure the equal development of all provinces, announcing substantial funding allocations and infrastructure projects during the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, according to official remarks.
Federal Funding and Infrastructure Projects for Balochistan
According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, additional funds have been provided for the development of Balochistan, building upon development requirements recognized in the NFC Award of 2010 to which all provinces contributed. Punjab has contributed one hundred and fifty billion rupees toward this effort. Among specific regional initiatives, the federal government provided fifty billion rupees for a 75-billion-rupee project focused on the solarization of twenty-seven thousand agricultural tube-wells in the province. Furthermore, the Karachi-Chaman expressway is scheduled for completion within one and a half to two years at a total cost of three hundred billion rupees, as stated by the Prime Minister.
Education and Water Storage Initiatives in the Province
The federal administration plans to work in complete coordination with the provincial government to create educational opportunities for youth, which includes establishing nine Daanish Schools in Balochistan. In the national budget, three hundred and sixty-eight billion rupees have been allocated for water storage projects. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that work on the Kachhi Canal project will be expedited and emphasized that the project should be renamed as the Pakistan Canal.
Security Concerns and Regional Counter-Terrorism Efforts
Addressing the ongoing war on terrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the sacrifices made by civilians and security personnel, expressing a collective commitment to rid the country of terrorism. He stated that India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. He also noted that while Pakistan has urged the Afghan interim government to rein in terrorist groups and prevent them from perpetrating attacks in Pakistan, the Afghan side has failed to do so thus far.
International Standing and Economic Path
According to the Prime Minister, Pakistan’s international standing has improved significantly due to its pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability, alongside the decisive defeat it inflicted on India in May of last year. He asserted that the time has come to advance the country on the path of economic development.
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