Balochistan Cabinet approves key governance and development decisions

QUETTA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2026) The Balochistan provincial cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, convened an important meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta to deliberate on matters of governance, local government, law and justice, health, and development.

The session opened with prayers for the martyrs of security forces and civilians who sacrificed their lives for peace and stability in Balochistan and across the country.

Briefing the media, Shahid Rind, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Political and Media Affairs, announced that the cabinet approved the dissolution of local government institutions upon completion of their constitutional term on February 8, 2027. It was agreed that before the next local government elections, issues related to the creation of new districts, delimitation, and judicial rulings would be presented to the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure a transparent and legally sound framework.

The cabinet also decided that elections in Quetta would be held simultaneously with other districts, despite Quetta’s administrative division into two districts.

To strengthen local governance, the cabinet approved the establishment of new municipal committees in Barkhan (Dera Khitaran) and Barshore, while upgrading Kharaan Municipal Committee to the status of a Municipal Corporation. In the realm of transparency, amendments to the Balochistan Right to Information Commission Act 2021 were endorsed to make access to information more effective and citizen-friendly. In law and justice, all session judges, additional session judges, and judicial magistrates were granted powers to hear narcotics-related cases under the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, a move expected to expedite trials.

For development and investment, the cabinet approved the Balochistan Public-Private Partnership Rules 2026, paving the way for private sector participation in infrastructure projects.

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It also sanctioned the creation of the Balochistan Secretariat Employees Cooperative Society, which will provide interest-free loans to employees for housing construction. In a symbolic step toward promoting religious harmony, the Department of Minority Affairs was renamed the Interfaith Harmony Department.

The cabinet also approved a contract appointment policy for employees from Grade 1 to 15 in the Culture Department, aiming to streamline administrative operations.

On public health, the cabinet endorsed the WASH Policy to improve access to clean water and sanitation. Foreign-assisted health projects were exempted from provincial taxes to ensure their continuity, while nursing graduates were granted a monthly stipend of Rs. 28,070 to enhance professional training. For law and order, new police stations were approved in Hub and Daam, along with a women’s police station in Dalbandin, district Chagai, to improve policing and protection for women.

Addressing the cabinet, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reaffirmed the government’s commitment to public service, transparent governance, institutional reforms, and sustainable development. He stressed that the decisions taken would strengthen local governments, improve service delivery, promote investment, uphold the rule of law, and accelerate development across the province. He emphasized that local bodies are the foundation of democracy and assured that upcoming elections would be conducted with full transparency and adherence to constitutional and legal requirements.

Sarfraz Bugti reiterated that the government’s priorities include transparency, accountability, interfaith harmony, peace, health, education, and provision of basic facilities, pledging to utilize all available resources for the welfare and prosperity of the people of Balochistan.