News Desk:
Islamabad – August 22, 2025: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met with the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms. Jane Marriott, in Islamabad on Friday. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, tackling the impacts of climate change, improving governance, enhancing law and order, and introducing reforms in education and healthcare.
Highlighting climate challenges, the Chief Minister said that Balochistan has launched its first-ever Climate Fund to deal with natural disasters and environmental protection. He stressed that transparency and governance remain top priorities, adding that the province saved Rs. 14 billion last fiscal year by reducing non-developmental expenditures.
On the education front, CM Bugti said the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program is providing quality education opportunities to students across the province. The initiative also includes the children of civilian martyrs, transgender persons, minorities, and underprivileged groups to ensure equal access to education.
To support youth economic empowerment, the provincial government, in collaboration with Akhuwat, is launching an interest-free loan scheme. He further shared that 16,000 teachers have been recruited purely on merit, while reforms in health and education departments are underway to improve service delivery.
For the first time in Balochistan’s history, a Youth Policy has been introduced. Under the Chief Minister Youth Skills Development Program, 30,000 young people will receive vocational training, with many expected to secure jobs abroad.
High Commissioner Jane Marriott praised the provincial government’s reform agenda, describing efforts in governance, education, health, and youth development as “commendable.” The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in multiple sectors, including training support for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Police to boost professional capacity.
