Naqvi Plans Peshawar, Quetta Visits Over Business Security Concerns
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced plans to visit Peshawar and Quetta for detailed consultations on security challenges affecting traders and industrialists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The assurance came during a meeting in Islamabad on Friday with business representatives from both provinces.
The delegation included members of chambers of commerce and leading figures from the trade and industrial sectors. Participants briefed the minister about threats, operational difficulties and law-and-order concerns that they said were disrupting commercial activity and weakening confidence among investors and employers.
Naqvi informed the delegation about the federal government’s assessment of the security situation, particularly in areas facing increased militant violence. He said the government was taking measures to improve protection and would use available resources to address legitimate concerns raised by business communities.
The interior minister said his proposed visits would bring together provincial authorities, law-enforcement officials and representatives of local chambers. He maintained that direct consultations were necessary to develop practical and lasting solutions rather than relying only on decisions made from the federal capital.
Naqvi described a secure and business-friendly environment as an important national priority, stressing that private enterprise plays a central role in employment, investment and economic growth. He told the delegation that the government stood with traders and industrialists, adding that the progress of the business community was closely linked with Pakistan’s overall development.
The discussions took place amid growing concern over terrorism and targeted violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security incidents in the two provinces have affected civilians, police personnel, labourers, transport networks and commercial operations, increasing demands for stronger intelligence coordination and more effective protection of economic activity.
Recent attacks in Balochistan have intensified anxiety among workers and businesses operating in remote districts. Six labourers abducted from Kech were later found dead, while separate incidents in Barkhan, Chagai, Mastung and Washuk have demonstrated the range of threats facing travellers, employees and infrastructure across the province.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also witnessed attacks involving improvised explosive devices and attempted sabotage of public facilities. Such violence carries consequences beyond immediate casualties because it can interrupt trade routes, discourage new investment, raise transportation costs and limit employment opportunities in already vulnerable regions.
The planned meetings in Peshawar and Quetta will be closely watched for concrete measures, including improved coordination between federal and provincial institutions, stronger security around industrial zones and safer movement for workers and commercial vehicles. Business leaders are expected to seek clear timelines and sustained action as the government develops its next response.