QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Friday said effective coordination between civil and military leadership had led to significant gains in the fight against terrorism and strengthened Pakistan’s defence and strategic outlook.
He expressed these views during a meeting with participants of the 55th course of the Pakistan Naval War College in Quetta.
The chief minister paid tribute to the leadership of the prime minister and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their efforts towards peace, stability and national security.
He said Pakistan’s defence and strategic vision had become clearer and more comprehensive due to this coordinated approach.
During the interaction, Mr Bugti briefed the participants on the political, security and socio-economic situation of Balochistan, and highlighted the province’s importance in the region’s changing geopolitical landscape.
He said Balochistan held a central position in Pakistan’s future and stressed that sustainable peace required continued civil-military harmony.
Rejecting the notion that uneven development was the sole cause of unrest, the chief minister said certain elements were engaged in negative propaganda and online misinformation to mislead youth, but the state was fully aware and responding effectively.
He said the provincial government had fully owned the counter-terrorism effort and was strengthening institutional capacity, including allocation of Rs40 billion for Balochistan Police and Rs10bn for the Counter Terrorism Department.
Mr Bugti termed youth the country’s most valuable asset and said efforts were underway to bring them into the national mainstream through merit, transparency and dialogue.
He said a comprehensive youth policy had been introduced for the first time in Balochistan to empower young people and include them in the development process.
The chief minister added that while grievances of youth were being addressed through engagement and reforms, no leniency would be shown to those taking up arms against the state.
