Prime Minister says progress of a single province cannot be considered progress of the country
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses participants at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad. SCREENSHOT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that Pakistan continues to seek good relations with Afghanistan, but urged the Afghan interim government not to allow its territory to be used for terrorist purposes against Pakistan.
“We share a 2,000 kilometer border with Afghanistan. We are neighbors and must live together, but we continue to urge the Afghan interim government not to allow its territory to be used for terrorist purposes against Pakistan,” he said.
Addressing participants at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, the Prime Minister also said that Balochistan’s vast geography and dispersed population posed development challenges unlike those faced by other provinces, emphasizing that Pakistan could only prosper if all the four provinces progressed together.
He welcomed the participants from across the province, saying they represented not only Balochistan but also Pakistan. “You all represent Pakistan here,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Balochistan played an important role in the creation of Pakistan, recalling that the political and tribal leaders of the province voluntarily joined the federation after independence.
“In 1947, the rulers of Balochistan accepted the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and became an integral part of Pakistan. The loyal rulers of Balochistan put aside their personal interests and egos and overwhelmingly supported the federation.”
Describing Balochistan as Pakistan’s largest province in terms of area, but the smallest in terms of population, the Prime Minister acknowledged that its geography presents unique development challenges.
“Distances between cities are vast, settlements are scattered and the problems are different from those faced in other provinces,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said the federation had recognized these challenges through the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, adding that Punjab had voluntarily supported a larger financial share for Balochistan.
“It was not a favor; it was an act of brotherhood. When a family has four members, they support each other,” he said, adding that Punjab had contributed around Rs 150 billion to Balochistan over the years and continued to do so.
Highlighting development initiatives, the Prime Minister said successive governments, including those led by Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), had increased funding to the province.
He said the federal government had contributed around Rs50 billion towards a Rs75 billion project to convert around 27,000 agricultural tube wells to solar energy, thereby addressing the persistent power shortages affecting farmers.
Read: District judge, security guard killed in armed attack in Mastung, Balochistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz also spoke about the Karachi-Chaman Highway (N-25), often known as the ‘bloody road’ due to its high accident rate.
“People lose their lives on this road almost every day,” he said.
The prime minister said the government had earmarked savings from falling international oil prices last year to finance the project.
“We have decided to build the Karachi-Chaman Expressway at a cost of around Rs 300 billion. When it is completed within two years, it will no longer be known as the ‘bloody road’ but the ‘progress road’.”
The Prime Minister said no province can prosper alone.
“Pakistan will succeed only when all four provinces succeed. If only one province progresses, it cannot be called progress of Pakistan.”
Addressing the issue of security, the Prime Minister expressed sadness over Thursday’s attack in Mastung in which district and sessions judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his security guard were killed.
“May Allah grant the martyred judge the highest place in Jannah,” he said, adding that sacrifices for the security of Pakistan were made not only by civilians but also by members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
He said more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the fight against terrorism, adding that India had supported terrorist groups.
He noted that terrorism had been largely contained in 2016 and 2017, but questioned how it had re-emerged.
“We all need to think about how this conspiracy could take root again.”
Learn more: Security forces kill 10 terrorists, arrest two suicide bombers in Balochistan
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has achieved significant successes recently, including Marka-e-Haqand gained international respect for his diplomatic efforts.
“Our enemies cannot tolerate Pakistan’s success,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged Pakistanis to work together to transform opportunities into sustainable development, adding that prosperity could only be achieved when all four provinces move forward together.
President Zardari calls for faster development in Balochistan
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called for accelerating the development of Balochistan, stressing that providing basic facilities to the people of the province and promoting its overall development remained among the top priorities of the government.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Balochistan provincial ministers at the Bilawal House in Karachi, according to a statement issued by the Presidency.
The meeting reviewed the law and order situation in the province, progress of development projects and the overall situation of Balochistan.
President Zardari has directed relevant authorities to expedite the implementation of ongoing development projects in the province.
He also stressed the need for all relevant institutions to work in a coordinated manner to improve law and order, promote public welfare and boost economic activity across Balochistan.
