Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has affirmed the federal government’s commitment to ensuring equitable development across all provinces, with a particular focus on Balochistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, during his address at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the federal government’s initiatives to promote growth in the province. He noted that additional funds have been allocated for Balochistan’s development and acknowledged the province’s needs in the 2010 National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Punjab has contributed 150 billion rupees towards this effort.

To support agricultural advancement, the Prime Minister detailed a project to solarize 27,000 agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan, with 50 billion rupees provided by the federal government for the 75 billion rupee initiative. Infrastructure development was also underscored, with the Karachi-Chaman expressway expected to be completed within two years at a cost of 300 billion rupees.

In education, the federal government plans to work closely with Balochistan’s provincial government to expand educational opportunities, including the establishment of nine Daanish Schools. Additionally, 368 billion rupees have been allocated for water storage projects, with a focus on expediting the Kachhi Canal project.

Prime Minister Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to combating terrorism, acknowledging the sacrifices of civilians and security personnel. He expressed concerns over India’s alleged sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan and urged the Afghan interim government to prevent terrorist activities against Pakistan.

Finally, Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s improved international standing, attributing it to the country’s role in promoting regional peace and stability, and emphasized the need to focus on economic development moving forward.