Shehbaz Urges Grand Dialogue to Address Balochistan Grievances

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a broad and meaningful dialogue to address Balochistan’s legitimate grievances, saying lasting solutions must come through consultation, justice and fair access to the province’s resources. Speaking to participants of the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad on Friday, the prime minister said the federal government was prepared to listen to concerns from the province and work toward peaceful solutions.

Shehbaz said Balochistan’s natural and mineral resources should primarily benefit the people of the province. He acknowledged that the province’s vast territory and widely dispersed population create significant challenges in providing roads, healthcare, education and other public services, and argued that these realities require fair allocation of national resources and closer cooperation between federal and provincial authorities.

The prime minister rejected violence as a means of pursuing political or economic grievances and condemned attacks on workers, teachers, engineers and other civilians. He said people willing to move away from violence and participate in a constructive political process should be engaged through dialogue. He also linked continuing militant activity in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to external support, while stressing that Pakistan’s security personnel were making sacrifices to protect citizens and development projects.

Shehbaz highlighted the Karachi-Chaman N-25 road project as an example of federal investment intended to improve connectivity and economic activity in Balochistan. He said around Rs415 billion had been allocated for transforming the route into a safer development corridor. According to the prime minister, work has begun, but security remains essential because infrastructure projects cannot progress effectively in areas where workers and construction activity face persistent militant threats.

The prime minister also pointed to Gwadar Port as an important asset for Balochistan and Pakistan’s wider economy. He said the federal government had previously directed that a significant portion of official imports of essential goods and machinery should be routed through Gwadar to increase activity at the port. He also recalled China’s support for the new Gwadar airport and said the province’s strategic infrastructure should translate into greater economic opportunities for local communities.

Shehbaz referred to fiscal and development measures intended to give Balochistan a larger share of government support. He said the province had received allocations in federal schemes above its population-based share and recalled arrangements under the National Finance Commission framework designed to address Balochistan’s financial needs. He said similar preferences had been applied to education programmes, including scholarships, laptops and other initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for students from the province.

Agriculture and energy were also raised during the discussion. The prime minister said the government had been supporting the conversion of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan to solar power, with substantial federal funding allocated to the programme. He presented the initiative as part of a wider effort to reduce energy difficulties for farmers and improve the sustainability of agricultural activity in areas where conventional electricity supply has remained costly or unreliable.

Shehbaz said Pakistan’s national development would remain incomplete unless Balochistan and the other provinces progressed together. He urged political leaders, civil society and other stakeholders to help protect development projects and ensure public resources are used effectively. The federal government, he said, would continue engaging with Balochistan over legitimate complaints while pursuing security, infrastructure investment and economic development in parallel, with further consultation expected as authorities work to translate the dialogue initiative into practical measures.