Qaseem Shah:
Quetta, August 19 – Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has issued strict directives to end illegal trawling in the province’s coastal waters, calling it an injustice to local fishermen and coastal communities.
He said such practices would not be tolerated under any circumstances and ordered the Fisheries Department to ensure its complete eradication.
The Chief Minister was addressing a high-level meeting of the Secretaries Committee at the CM Secretariat. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Mir Saleem Khan Khosa, and Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, along with Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretaries Zahid Saleem and Hamza Shafqat, Principal Secretary Babar Khan, and secretaries of all departments.
During the meeting, a comprehensive review of ongoing development projects in Balochistan was conducted. CM Bugti emphasized that all departments are responsible for ensuring transparency, quality, and timely completion of projects. He directed that small schemes with 100% allocations must be completed by January 1 next year, stressing that no compromise on quality will be accepted.
Bugti further highlighted that the provincial government’s top priority is to complete public interest development schemes within the stipulated time.
He ordered all departments to ensure transparent and timely use of allocated funds, while also establishing a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system to track institutional performance, project progress, and fund utilization. Every department will now be required to submit a monthly report on project status and expenditures.
The Chief Minister warned that officers responsible for negligence or delays would face strict action. “The resources of Balochistan belong to the people and must be spent on public service and welfare projects. Transparency, speed, and accountability are our key priorities,” he stated.
The meeting also discussed the education sector, where CM Bugti directed officials to expedite reforms in the Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. He emphasized ensuring merit and transparency to transform the Board into a model institution.
Additionally, Bugti instructed that the next committee meeting should review all foreign-funded and federal projects.
He announced that the practice of “concept papers” is being abolished, and only practical, site-assessed PC-1s will be considered for approval. He also directed that departmental approval for new development projects must be completed at least three months before the annual budget, to guarantee timely implementation.
