Quetta: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), emphasized the urgent need to combat terrorism to ensure national security and foster peace across Balochistan. During a detailed briefing on the province’s law and order and development projects at the Chief Minister’s House, he highlighted the necessity of grassroots political processes for sustained peace and development.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, Zardari focused on Balochistan’s development and prosperity as key priorities for the PPP. He praised the introduction of Balochistan’s first youth policy and urged its full implementation to maximize opportunities for the region’s youth. He also called for the rapid completion of health projects and the construction of homes for those affected by the 2022 floods, emphasizing the need to enhance the province’s infrastructure from Gwadar to Quetta and Sibi to Jafarabad.
The briefing, attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, various provincial ministers, and PPP officials, covered the broad scope of social development projects planned for the 2024-2025 financial year. These include the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program, People’s Air Ambulance, Green Bus Service, Skilled Workers Card Program, and the establishment of medical facilities like NICVD branches and the Gambat Liver Transplant Center.
Significant budget increases have been allocated for education and health, with initiatives like Health-on-Wheels and free cancer medications aimed at expanding services to remote areas. The meeting also highlighted the near completion of a project to convert over 30,000 agricultural tube wells to solar energy, along with the provision of green tractors to aid local farmers.
An ambitious plan to provide interest-free loans to unemployed graduates, alongside a new youth skills development program, aims to train and employ 30,000 young people internationally over the next two years. Additional scholarships will support Balochistani students pursuing PhDs in science at over 200 universities globally.
Zardari’s visit, which began with a warm reception at Quetta airport and included a one-on-one meeting with CM Bugti, underscores his commitment to addressing the critical challenges facing Balochistan.