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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the government&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism, praising the role and sacrifices of the country&rsquo;s security forces during a one-day visit to Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan.&nbsp;Addressing political leaders in a live briefing aired on state television, Sharif said the fight against militancy was ongoing and required national unity. The visit included high-level meetings on governance and development in the province, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;Upon his arrival at the Governor House, the prime minister was presented a guard of honor by a contingent of the Balochistan Police, a Governor House press release said.&nbsp;The meeting was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, federal ministers, Dr Ahsan Iqbal, Aleem Khan and Rana Sanaullah, as well as senior political figures from the province.&nbsp;During his address, Sharif praised Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for leading counter-terrorism operations. He said it was &ldquo;unfortunate&rdquo; that Balochistan continued to suffer from militant violence, adding that the contribution of the armed forces could not be overstated.&nbsp;&ldquo;Like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan has faced immense difficulties due to terrorism,&rdquo; Sharif said, referring to another northwestern province that has experienced years of militant attacks.&nbsp;&ldquo;Be it the soldiers and officers of the army, Rangers personnel, officials of the Levies, or the common people, their sacrifices will be remembered in history,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Sharif said banned militant groups, which the state refers to as Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term Islamabad uses for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were receiving support from &ldquo;neighboring countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;But we are firm in our resolve to eradicate terrorism,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Referring to recent tensions with India in May last year, the prime minister said Field Marshal Munir had led Pakistan&rsquo;s response, adding that New Delhi had been &ldquo;taught a lesson it will never forget.&rdquo;&nbsp;The prime minister also said the provincial government, working closely with the federal authorities, was taking &ldquo;serious, coordinated, and result-oriented measures&rdquo; to address Balochistan&rsquo;s long-standing underdevelopment and integrate it into Pakistan&rsquo;s economic mainstream, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.

Economy

Security

In Quetta, PM Shehbaz Sharif underscores Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, honours security forces’ sacrifices, and stresses unity and development for Balochistan.

PM Sharif visits Quetta, praises forces, reaffirms Pakistan’s anti-terror resolve

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of the Defence Forces&nbsp;Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has warned India that its proxies in Balochistan will face &ldquo;stern action&rdquo; for sabotaging peace and development. &ldquo;Indian-sponsored proxies continue to propagate violence and disrupt development in Balochistan,&rdquo; the ISPR quoted the field marshal as saying in a press statement here on Wednesday. &ldquo;Such inimical designs will be thwarted through stern action by security forces to rid the province of terrorism and unrest,&rdquo; the field marshal said while addressing participants of the 18th National Workshop on Balochistan at General Headquarters (GHQ). The workshop focused on exploring Balochistan&rsquo;s socio-economic development and its strategic importance for Pakistan. The ISPR statement said Field Marshal&nbsp;Munir spoke at length about Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to ensure regional peace and stability. Munir is credited with leading the defense forces and repelling an Indian attack on Pakistan on May 7. International media have not only analyzed the spectacular defense mounted by Pakistan&rsquo;s forces but have also highlighted Field Marshal&nbsp;Munir&rsquo;s growing role in regional and international affairs. Coverage has highlighted his engagements with global leaders, including meetings with US President Donald Trump, as well as his influence on regional and global security dynamics. According to the ISPR, Field Marshal&nbsp;Munir reaffirmed the security forces&rsquo; commitment to rooting out terrorism and protecting Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity. &ldquo;Any violation of Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity, whether direct or indirect, will be met with a firm and decisive response. The Pakistan Armed Forces remain committed to protecting the lives and well-being of their citizens,&rdquo; the ISPR statement quoted Munir as saying. During his address, the field marshal praised the resilience and patriotism of the people of Balochistan and highlighted the province&rsquo;s pivotal importance to Pakistan&rsquo;s prosperity and development. He lauded the wide-ranging initiatives being undertaken by the federal and provincial governments, underscoring a people-centric approach aimed at improving socio-economic conditions and unlocking Balochistan&rsquo;s vast economic potential for the benefit of its people. Munir acknowledged the constructive role of civil society, particularly in debunking propaganda, and highlighted its crucial contribution to driving sustainable development. He stressed the importance of rejecting vested political agendas to ensure that Balochistan&rsquo;s future is shaped by long-term prosperity for all its residents. The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which Field Marshal Munir responded to queries and spoke about ongoing efforts to develop Balochistan and ensure its security.

Says Indian-sponsored proxies engage in violence and disrupt development in Balochistan; vows decisive action against direct or indirect threats to Pakistan.

Field Marshal Munir warns India against sabotaging peace

ISLAMABAD: The United States has announced a new commitment of $1.25 billion in financing through the US Export-Import Bank to support the development of the Rico Deep critical minerals project in Balochistan, a move officials say will boost investment, create jobs and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.&nbsp;In a video message, US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker said the financing would be transformative for both American businesses and local communities in Pakistan. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleased to highlight the US Export-Import Bank recently approved financing of $1.25 billion to support the mining of critical minerals at Rico Deep in Pakistan,&rdquo; she said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1998654886850773219&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=f59b6a1ede08621f7e3bf5ff2e3ac6c33ac82f89&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> She noted that the EXIM&rsquo;s project financing will bring in up to $2 billion in high-quality US mining equipment and services needed to build and operate the Rico Deep mine, along with creating an estimated 6,000 jobs in the US and 7,500 jobs in Balochistan, Pakistan.&nbsp;Baker said the project represents a new model of cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. &ldquo;The Rico Deep project serves as a model for mining projects that will benefit US exporters as well as local Pakistani communities and partners by bringing employment and prosperity to both our nations,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;She noted that the initiative aligns with the Trump administration&rsquo;s approach to economic diplomacy. &ldquo;The Trump administration has made the forging of deals exactly like this one central to American diplomacy. We look forward to seeing further agreements between US companies and their Pakistani counterparts in the critical minerals and mining sector,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The US official said the financing will help unlock long-term opportunities in Balochistan&rsquo;s mineral sector, support infrastructure development, and deepen commercial engagement between the two countries.

US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker says the financing package would act as a “game-changer” by supporting American companies looking to invest in Pakistan while creating jobs and improving livelihoods in local communities.

US commits $1.25bn in EXIM Bank financing to boost growth in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, while highlighting the issue of &ldquo;Indian-sponsored proxies&quot; propagating &quot;anti-people and anti-development agendas&quot; in Balochistan, assured to rid the province of the &quot;menace&quot;. He said, &ldquo;Indian-sponsored proxies, Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij, propagate anti-people and anti-development agendas with malicious intent to perpetrate violence,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;All necessary actions are being taken to pursue these terrorists and rid the province of this menace.&rdquo; Field Marshal Munir said this in a meeting with the participants of the 17th National Workshop Balochistan at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Tuesday, according to a statement issued&nbsp;by Pakistan military&#39;s media wing,&nbsp;the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp; &#39;True wealth of Pakistan&#39;He reaffirmed the province&rsquo;s importance to Pakistan&rsquo;s unity and development.&nbsp;During the interaction, the Army Chief lauded the people of Balochistan, calling them the &ldquo;true wealth of Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Balochistan is the pride of Pakistan, endowed with highly vibrant, resilient, and patriotic people who are its true wealth,&rdquo; the COAS said.&nbsp;Field Marshal Munir highlighted the federal and provincial governments&rsquo; development initiatives aimed at improving the province&rsquo;s socio-economic landscape through a people-centric approach. Balochistan&#39;s &#39;immense potential&#39;&nbsp;&ldquo;The immense economic potential of Balochistan must be realized for the benefit of its people,&rdquo; he emphasized.&nbsp;Acknowledging the importance of youth and civil society, the COAS urged them to play a constructive and unifying role in the province&rsquo;s progress.&nbsp;&ldquo;The constructive role of civil society, particularly in engaging and empowering youth, is pivotal to sustainable development,&rdquo; he noted, stressing the need to &ldquo;negate vested political agendas in the interest of long-term prosperity.&rdquo;&nbsp;Commenting on security challenges, the COAS denounced Indian-sponsored proxies and militant factions attempting to destabilize the province. Commitment to regional peace&nbsp;&nbsp;Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to regional peace and stability, Field Marshal Munir warned that any violation of Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity would be met with a decisive response.&nbsp;&ldquo;While Pakistan seeks regional peace and stability, any violation of its territorial integrity, direct or indirect, will be met with a firm and decisive response to safeguard the lives and well-being of our citizens,&rdquo; the COAS affirmed. On Saturday, the army chief had cautioned India that there was &ldquo;no space for war in a nuclearized environment&rdquo; as he hailed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;clear victory&rdquo; during the May conflict with the neighboring country.

Field Marshal Asim Munir condemned elements involved in spreading “anti-people and anti-development propaganda,” stressing that such activities hinder peace and progress in the province.

Balochistan being rid of 'Indian-sponsored proxies': army chief

ISLAMABAD: The air at Lok Virsa Cultural and Heritage Museum this week is alive with the rhythms of Balochistan, the beat of folk drums, the swirl of embroidered turbans, and the aroma of sajji roasting over open flames.&nbsp;Visitors stepping into the Balochistan Grand Tourism Festival find themselves immersed in a vivid celebration of the province&rsquo;s culture, hospitality, and promise, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Department (PID) on Saturday.&nbsp;Organized by the Balochistan Department of Culture and Tourism, the three-day festival transforms the museum grounds into a vibrant slice of Pakistan&rsquo;s largest yet often misunderstood province.&nbsp;Models of major landmarks, &nbsp;from Gwadar Port to Hingol National Park, stand proudly beside displays of gemstones and minerals, highlighting the region&rsquo;s vast natural wealth and potential for tourism.&nbsp;Stalls adorned with bold Balochi embroidery showcase handmade jewelry, pottery, and traditional dresses, while the rhythmic sound of dambura strings draws visitors toward live folk performances. Women in brightly colored pashk dresses and men in flowing shalwar kameez perform the traditional chaap dance, their hands clapping in unison to the beat.&nbsp;The scent of spiced lamb and freshly baked kaak fills the air as visitors sample traditional dishes, each bite offering a taste of Balochistan&rsquo;s diverse culinary heritage. Families, students, and tourists stroll through the festival grounds, pausing to take photographs beside replicas of Quetta&rsquo;s Ziarat Residency and the rugged peaks of the Makran coast.&nbsp;Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pakistan Commerce Minister &nbsp;Jam Kamal Khan said it was time to show the &ldquo;real and vibrant Balochistan&rdquo; to the world, one defined not by challenges but by patriotism, traditions, and immense potential.&nbsp;&ldquo;When you invest in your own people, the world will come to you,&rdquo; the PID quoted the minister as saying, emphasizing that promoting Balochistan&rsquo;s beauty, heritage, and hospitality through tourism and investment can help foster national unity and reshape perceptions.&nbsp;Nawabzada Mir Muhammad Zarain Khan Magsi, Parliamentary Secretary for Culture and Tourism for Balochistan, said the festival aims to project the &ldquo;true image&rdquo; of Balochistan through its folk music, crafts, cuisine, and cultural performances.&nbsp;He added that such initiatives promote tourism while strengthening cultural diplomacy and interprovincial harmony.&nbsp;As twilight descends over Lok Virsa, the stage lights flicker on and the soulful strains of the suroz fill the night, a reminder that Balochistan&rsquo;s true story is one of resilience, beauty, and boundless spirit.

Culture

Colorful Balochi dresses, rhythmic folk dances, soulful dambura tunes, and the aroma of traditional sajji filled Lok Virsa, as artisans, musicians, and chefs showcased Balochistan’s rich heritage, crafts, cuisine, and hospitality at the tourism festival.

Balochistan’s colors shine bright at Lok Virsa festival in Islamabad

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: The Green Balochistan Initiative, the province&rsquo;s key socio-economic development project, is nearing completion of its first phase and has entered its second phase, the project&#39;s coordinator said on Monday. Shehzad Jaffer told Pakistan TV Digital that the initiative, launched in 2022-23, targets the needs of local communities in areas such as water, roads, agriculture, and irrigation. District administrations, the Pakistan Army, and local Baloch citizens identified and prioritized issues, which were turned into detailed projects in 2023. Implementation began in 2024. &ldquo;Phase I is almost complete,&rdquo; Jaffer said. About 80% of the work is done, and the project is expected to be finished by June 2026. Phase I details and impact Phase I includes 74 projects worth Rs21.2 billion, focusing on agriculture, roads, water supply, and small dams. The roads component features 22 farm-to-market links that will connect remote settlements to Balochistan&rsquo;s highway network. The water component includes 33 schemes, ranging from filtration plants to piped water supply, across several districts. Small dams have also been built in areas like Kalat and Awaran to improve irrigation. Jaffer described the reconstruction of a 50-60 km section of the Washuk road, which turned a previously impassable route into a paved carriageway. Talking about its importance, especially in case of emergencies, he stated how &ldquo;it can save lives when patients need to reach medical care.&rdquo; The project coordinator also mentioned a village that had lacked proper water supply for nearly 40 years. &ldquo;We [installed] a solar-powered well, underground storage, and a filtration plant at the village&#39;s doorstep. People no longer [have to] walk long distances for unsafe water.&rdquo; Similarly, in Awaran, a cluster of 54 reverse osmosis plants is being installed to provide clean drinking water to remote areas. Green Balochistan Initiative: Focus on agriculture The Green Balochistan Initiative (GBI), which includes 13 agriculture projects, is central to the program. It aims to improve farm productivity and resilience. One major element is the development of the Kachhi Canal&rsquo;s command area, which is expected to irrigate around 100,000 acres when fully developed. The initiative also includes 333 solar-powered tubewells, submersible wells, drip irrigation systems, and plantations. &ldquo;GBI will create jobs in remote areas and improve Balochistan&rsquo;s agriculture,&rdquo; Jaffer said. Phase II launches with new projects The government has approved the second phase of the project, which includes 46 new projects worth Rs15.6 billion. This phase features 20 road projects, 18 water supply schemes, and eight irrigation schemes. Work on the second phase has already begun, the project coordinator confirmed. Monitoring and transparency measures To track progress, the government has set up an online dashboard, updated every two weeks. The dashboard is accessible to all stakeholders. &ldquo;If progress is not updated on time, an alert is sent to the responsible officer,&rdquo; Jaffer said. Monitoring teams also conduct field checks to ensure projects meet deadlines and quality standards. Jaffer stated that the initiative is community-driven. &ldquo;The people encouraged us to start and expand into the second phase. They see the impact on their daily lives already.&rdquo;

The Green Balochistan Initiative is nearing completion of its first phase and has entered its second phase.

Balochistan’s socio-economic development initiative enters its second phase, with 74 projects focused on agriculture, roads, water supply, and irrigation, with the aim of improving rural conditions in Pakistan's largest province. 

Articles tagged with "Balochistan"

PM Sharif visits Quetta, praises forces, reaffirms Pakistan’s anti-terror resolve

Field Marshal Munir warns India against sabotaging peace

US commits $1.25bn in EXIM Bank financing to boost growth in Balochistan

Balochistan being rid of 'Indian-sponsored proxies': army chief

Balochistan’s colors shine bright at Lok Virsa festival in Islamabad

Pakistan's Green Balochistan Initiative drives agricultural, infrastructure growth