QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that no conspiracy to break Pakistan will succeed, while urging young people in the province to focus on education, development and their future.
Addressing participants of the 21st National Workshop Balochistan in Quetta, Sarfraz Bugti said certain elements were promoting separatist thinking in the name of identity.
He said, in his characterization of the situation, that such elements were seeking to divide Pakistan, while Baloch youth were being pushed toward what he described as a futile conflict.
Senator Dinesh Kumar, Adviser for Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind, and Principal Secretary Imran Zarkoon were also present during the event.
Sarfraz Bugti Urges Youth to Focus on Education
Sarfraz Bugti said young people should distinguish between facts and perceptions and develop a better understanding of the history of Balochistan.
He alleged that anti-Pakistan elements based abroad were using organized propaganda to influence young people.
The chief minister urged the youth to avoid becoming part of what he described as anti-state propaganda and instead concentrate on education, development and economic opportunities.
Bugti also argued that uneven development and backwardness should not be treated as the sole explanation for unrest in Balochistan.
He noted that development disparities exist in Pakistan and other countries, while arguing that such disparities do not justify violence or the killing of innocent people.
The Balochistan chief minister said his government was taking steps to reduce the gap between the state and young people by providing opportunities for them to participate and be heard.
He emphasized meritocracy as an important means of ensuring that young people receive their due rights.
According to Bugti, an artificial intelligence-based testing system has been introduced in Balochistan to improve merit and transparency in government recruitment. He said the system was intended to ensure that deserving candidates were not deprived of employment opportunities.
The AI-based testing initiative was presented as part of broader government efforts to improve transparency in recruitment and strengthen confidence among young people.
Sarfraz Bugti also discussed the provincial government’s development and accountability measures.
He said Balochistan had achieved 100 percent progress in its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the previous two years.
He further said the Anti-Corruption Department had been activated and that the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team had been mobilized to monitor development projects.
According to Bugti, inspections began from his own constituency to demonstrate that accountability would be applied without discrimination.
He said action against alleged corrupt elements was continuing and arrests had also been made.
The chief minister said the provincial government was working to strengthen institutions responsible for monitoring development projects and promoting transparency and merit.
Sarfraz Bugti Says Good Governance Will Continue
Bugti said the foundations of good governance had been laid in Balochistan and that the government would maintain the process.
He linked improved governance with transparency, accountability, merit and greater opportunities for young people, saying these measures could help strengthen the relationship between the state and the province’s youth.
The chief minister’s remarks came amid continued discussion about Balochistan’s security situation, development challenges and the role of young people in the province’s future. His comments regarding the nature and causes of unrest were his assessment of the situation.
Question-and-Answer Session Lasts More Than Two Hours
Following his address, Sarfraz Bugti participated in an extensive question-and-answer session with workshop participants from Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan.
The session lasted for more than two and a half hours, with discussions covering Balochistan’s history, the province’s current situation, government initiatives and governance issues.
The chief minister also distributed laptops among female students who had demonstrated outstanding academic performance, as part of efforts to encourage education and support high-achieving students.
The event concluded with Bugti reiterating the importance of education, development, merit and accountable governance, while calling on young people to focus on opportunities that could contribute to the future of Balochistan.
