PM Shehbaz Urges Balochistan to Become Active Partner in Pakistan’s Economic Growth

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the people of Balochistan to become active participants in Pakistan’s economic journey, emphasizing that every citizen of the province should feel like a true stakeholder in the country’s prosperity.

Addressing the participants of the National Workshop Balochistan in Islamabad, the premier said that Allah had blessed Balochistan with natural resources worth trillions of dollars, yet they remain largely untapped. He called for deep reflection on why such potential has remained buried for decades.

Highlighting the province’s geographical challenges, he noted that the scattered population and weak infrastructure have hindered development in education, industry, and connectivity. Referring to the Karachi-Chaman highway — dubbed the “bloody road” due to frequent accidents — the PM announced the road’s dualization project, costing Rs350 billion, funded by Rs180 billion in savings from reduced petroleum prices.

Shehbaz Sharif lauded the harmony of the Baloch people and stressed that all communities — Baloch, Pashtun, Punjabi, and others — must work together for progress and peace. He acknowledged the resurgence of terrorism since 2018’s stability, calling for introspection and united national action.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to unity, he said the aim is to build provincial harmony, affection, and shared growth from Peshawar to Karachi.