Editorial:Â
The federal government’s allocation of Rs250 billion for Balochistan in the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is a significant step that, if properly implemented, can transform the province’s economic future. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement at the Balochistan Grand Tribal Jirga in Quetta reflects a welcome shift toward prioritizing infrastructure investment, socio-economic development, and regional connectivity in a province often overlooked.
However, we emphasize that this federal funding must be utilized for high-impact, long-term infrastructure projects — not short-term political schemes or small-scale, non-transparent initiatives. Balochistan requires mega projects that foster job creation, enhance public health systems, modernize education infrastructure, and develop transportation networks to uplift the Human Development Index (HDI) of the province.
For maximum return on investment and to ensure value for taxpayer money, funds must be directed toward projects like the dualization of the Quetta-Karachi Highway, smart road infrastructure, clean drinking water systems, renewable energy integration, and digital education access. These projects not only promote regional growth but also boost national economic indicators and reduce rural-urban disparities.
From a public finance and fiscal policy standpoint, transparency and accountability mechanisms must be enforced. We urge the government to establish an independent monitoring authority to ensure that every rupee is spent efficiently. Government transparency, financial accountability, and public-private partnerships should guide the implementation process to avoid corruption and misuse of development funds.
This is not just an economic opportunity; it is a national security imperative. Without addressing the root causes of underdevelopment — poverty, unemployment, and lack of education — extremism, insurgency, and foreign-sponsored sabotage will continue to find fertile ground. National security, economic resilience, and social cohesion are directly tied to how well we invest in the country’s largest and most resource-rich province.
As a platform committed to investigative journalism, public interest reporting, and development policy, we insist that there be no individual projects, no ghost schemes, and no politically motivated allocations. Only inclusive economic development, guided by data-driven planning and evidence-based policy, can deliver the sustainable growth Balochistan needs.
This is a defining moment. The Rs250 billion fund should not be another missed opportunity. It must become the foundation for a new era of economic empowerment, smart city development, and infrastructure modernization in Balochistan. This will not only enhance the province’s GDP contribution, but also attract foreign direct investment (FDI), boost e-commerce logistics, and reduce the digital and physical divide that isolates communities.
We call on the federal and provincial governments to act decisively, inclusively, and transparently. This is about nation-building, not narrow interests. The people of Balochistan deserve no less.
