QUETTA: Under the chairmanship of Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, the 20th meeting of the provincial cabinet was held on Friday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
During the session, several important decisions were approved regarding climate change, urban transport facilities, financial reforms, the establishment of the Bank of Balochistan, improvement of administrative structure, education, environmental protection, and public welfare.
At the start of the meeting, Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti congratulated Field Marshal General Asim Munir on assuming the responsibilities of Chief of Defence Forces.
He stated that General Asim Munir’s wise leadership and defensive strategy during Indian aggression significantly enhanced Pakistan’s global standing.
He added that the armed forces possess extraordinary capabilities to handle all kinds of challenges, and the people of Balochistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder with their brave military forces.
Regarding urban transport, the cabinet approved additional routes and more buses for the Green Bus Service.
The Chief Minister also announced the launch of the first-ever Pink Bus Service for women in Balochistan an important step toward ensuring safe and dignified travel for women.
Calling climate change a major challenge, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti stated that the province has established its first Climate Fund, aimed at strengthening eco-friendly policies and climate-resilient development projects.
The cabinet also agreed to gradually phase out traditional rickshaws and motorbikes to reduce environmental pollution, introducing electric bikes and electric rickshaws across the province.
In a significant financial development, the cabinet granted approval in principle for the establishment of the Bank of Balochistan.
The Chief Minister instructed that the bank must become functional by next year and that its administrative board should be created with complete transparency and strict merit.
He emphasized that the bank would remain entirely free of political influence or pressure.
The cabinet also approved the appointment of the chairperson of the Balochistan Environmental Protection Tribunal, the Birth and Death Registration Model By-laws 2022, and the Special Marriage Act for the Bahá’í minority community.
To improve legal facilitation across the province, it was decided that divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, and assistant commissioners would be given the powers of Justice of the Peace.
They will be authorized to direct police to register FIRs in cognizable cases, immediately address harassment complaints, and reduce delays caused by legal complexities.
In a key decision relating to education, the cabinet exempted taxes on the construction of additional classrooms and facilities in 3,000 single-room schools through Parent-Teacher Committees. A target was also set to upgrade 90% of single-room schools to two-room schools within the next three years.
In the development and economic sectors, the cabinet approved the establishment of a Project Management Unit in the Planning & Development Department, the Balochistan Livelihood Support Project, the Tax on Land and Agriculture Income Rules 2025, and amendments to the Balochistan Levies Force Service Rules 2023.
Addressing the session, Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti stated that the provincial cabinet is committed to modernizing the financial structure of the province, improving urban services with transparency and efficiency, and making decisions that will show clear results in the years to come.
He added that practical measures have begun to combat climate change, modernize urban transport, strengthen the education system, and stabilize the economy on sustainable foundations.
“We are building a province where development will be judged by results, not announcements, and where every citizen feels the government is working for their welfare and securing their future,” he said.
The meeting concluded with prayers for the elevation of ranks of security force martyrs and civilian martyrs, as well as special prayers for the speedy recovery of Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani.
