QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that no conspiracy aimed at breaking up Pakistan will succeed, while accusing certain elements of promoting separatist thinking and misleading young people through organized propaganda.
Sarfraz Bugti made the remarks while addressing participants of the 21st National Workshop Balochistan in Quetta. Senator Danesh Kumar, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind and Principal Secretary Imran Zarkoon were also present.
The chief minister said some elements were attempting to promote a separatist ideology on the basis of identity and were pushing Baloch youth toward what he described as a futile conflict.
He said such a conflict would neither benefit young people nor contribute to the future development of Balochistan.
Sarfraz Bugti Urges Youth to Reject Propaganda
Sarfraz Bugti urged young people to distinguish between facts and perceptions and to learn about the history of Balochistan from reliable sources.
He alleged that anti-Pakistan elements based abroad were using organized propaganda to influence young people. He called on the youth to focus instead on education, development, skills and economic opportunities.
The chief minister also rejected the argument that uneven development and backwardness alone explain unrest in Balochistan. He said development disparities exist in Pakistan and other countries but argued that violence and the killing of innocent people cannot be justified as a means of achieving development.
Bugti’s remarks come amid continued security challenges in Balochistan. In separate comments earlier this month, he said his government would not negotiate with armed groups fighting the state and that security operations against militant groups would continue.
The chief minister also highlighted government measures aimed at improving merit and transparency in recruitment.
He said an artificial intelligence-based testing system had been introduced in Balochistan to strengthen transparency in government recruitment and ensure that deserving candidates receive opportunities on merit.
The provincial government has previously announced online and paperless recruitment initiatives, including an online testing system designed to assess candidates’ qualifications and aptitude. Officials said the system would eventually be expanded to other government departments.
The use of technology in recruitment is part of a wider digital-governance agenda being promoted by the Balochistan government. The provincial government has also highlighted AI-based systems and other digital initiatives as tools for improving transparency and public services.
Sarfraz Bugti said the provincial government had also made progress on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the past two years.
He said the Anti-Corruption Department had been activated and the Chief Minister Inspection Team mobilized to monitor development projects.
According to Bugti, inspections began from his own constituency to demonstrate that accountability would be applied without discrimination. He also said action and arrests against people accused of corruption were continuing.
The chief minister said the foundation for good governance had been established in Balochistan and pledged that efforts to maintain and strengthen the system would continue.
The Balochistan Planning and Development Department identifies sustainable development, strategic planning and infrastructure development among its priorities and provides access to the province’s PSDP portal.
Chief Minister Answers Questions From Participants
Following his address, the chief minister participated in a question-and-answer session with participants from across Pakistan.
The session lasted for more than two and a half hours, during which Bugti responded to questions concerning Balochistan’s political, security, development and governance challenges.
He also distributed laptops among female students who had demonstrated outstanding academic performance.
The 21st National Workshop Balochistan is designed to bring participants from across Pakistan together to understand national policies, government initiatives and challenges facing Balochistan. The workshop’s organizers describe it as a platform for discussing national security dynamics and provincial development.
