Underdevelopment is no justification for violence; an ideology cannot be imposed through force

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that there is no conventional insurgency in the province, but rather certain elements seeking separation under the guise of identity. He said these elements want to divide Pakistan into pieces like a cake, but no conspiracy aimed at breaking up the country will ever succeed.

Addressing participants of the 21st National Workshop Balochistan, the Chief Minister said young people are being pushed into a futile conflict that will yield no result, as no ideology can be imposed on anyone at gunpoint. He stated categorically that uneven development and underdevelopment cannot justify violent actions, as such problems exist across Pakistan and in many countries around the world. He said the elements spreading unrest are not seeking development but separation.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti urged young people to distinguish between facts and assumptions and to learn about the province's real history. He said anti-Pakistan elements based abroad are misleading the younger generation through organized propaganda. He called on young people to focus on their education and a brighter future rather than becoming part of an anti-state narrative. He said the government is listening to young people at every level to bridge the gap between the state and the youth, adding that the rights of deserving people can only be ensured through the promotion of meritocracy.

Speaking about government reforms, the Chief Minister said an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based testing system has already been introduced in Balochistan to ensure transparency, while jobs will be awarded strictly on merit. He said 100 percent progress has been achieved on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) over the past two years. He added that the Anti-Corruption Department has been activated and the Chief Minister's Inspection Team has been fully mobilized. The team has begun inspecting development projects, starting from his own constituency, while arrests of individuals allegedly involved in corruption are also continuing. He reiterated that a strong foundation for good governance has been laid in the province and that this progress will be maintained at all costs.