Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, stated that the blood being shed in the name of ethnicity is not that of Baloch-Punjabi conflict but of Pakistanis falling victim to terrorism. Speaking at the 15th National Workshop in Balochistan, he emphasized the need to confront terrorism with a clear and realistic approach, free from confusion. He also highlighted the necessity for every Pakistani to differentiate between perception and reality regarding the situation in Balochistan.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti clarified that the root cause of unrest in Balochistan was not uneven development, as uneven development is a problem faced by not only Pakistan but also many countries worldwide. He stressed that complaints regarding bad governance and lack of development can be addressed to the government, but such grievances should not serve as justification for discontent with the state. He reiterated that Article 5 of the Constitution of Pakistan mandates unconditional loyalty to the state.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of historical awareness in the context of Balochistan’s current situation. He emphasized the need to research and present historical facts accurately, rather than distorting them. He cited the example of calling limited operations in Qalat or Rahim Yar Khan as operations covering entire provinces, stating that such generalizations are misleading. He pointed out that labeling a limited operation in Qalat as an operation against all of Balochistan is equally incorrect.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti also announced the launch of the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program in Balochistan, which now provides access for underprivileged students to higher education institutions from matriculation to PhD. He proudly stated that today, the child of a poor laborer in Balochistan has the same educational opportunities as the child of a wealthy individual.
Additionally, the Chief Minister shared that special scholarships have been allocated for the children of civilian martyrs, minorities, and transgender individuals. He also mentioned that the government is training 30,000 youth to be skilled workers and sending them abroad for employment opportunities.
