Quetta: Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi has announced that Balochistan has introduced historic reforms in its planning, monitoring, and implementation systems over the past two years, resulting in unprecedented transparency, efficiency, and quality in development projects. For the first time in the province’s history, development fund utilization reached 114 percent, a milestone hailed as clear evidence of Balochistan’s growing institutional capacity.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, accompanied by Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove and Additional Chief Secretary (Development and Planning) Zahid Saleem, Zahoor Buledi said the Planning and Development Department has, for the first time, issued an annual progress report. The report comprehensively documents achievements, institutional reforms, policy initiatives, and regulatory measures undertaken over the past two and a half years.
Zahoor Buledi highlighted that the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) has been fully automated, enabling online submission, automated approvals, and integrated data management. A dedicated mobile application has also been launched, allowing officials to access real-time information on project sites. Nearly all development schemes have been geo-tagged down to the union council level, significantly strengthening monitoring.
He noted that the Bureau of Statistics has been modernized, with expert-driven data analysis now guiding project feasibility. For the first time, a provincial socio-economic digital dashboard has been launched, alongside a detailed report analyzing indicators from 2010 to 2023.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Wing, previously inactive, has been revitalized. In fiscal year 2025-26 alone, monitoring teams inspected 2, 022 projects, a 378 percent increase compared to the previous year. Of the 6, 728 schemes included in the PSDP, 3, 758 were ongoing and 2, 970 were new, with Rs. 249 billion allocated. However, due to effective planning and reforms, Rs. 283 billion was utilized surpassing the allocation and achieving 114 percent fund usage.
Zahoor Buledi stressed that past perceptions of Balochistan’s limited capacity to utilize more than 50-70 percent of development funds have been proven wrong. He said the province’s capacity has significantly expanded and will continue to improve.
For fiscal year 2026-27, a provincial PSDP worth Rs. 206 billion has been approved, with the highest allocations for the Communications and Works Department, followed by Irrigation and Education. Buledi emphasized that education, long neglected, has now been prioritized, with funds directed toward school upgradation, provision of missing facilities, WASH programs, and resources for quality education.
Additional Chief Secretary Zahid Saleem added that reforms in project appraisal, approval, and execution have ensured timely implementation and effective fund utilization. He noted that digitization has eliminated hard-copy submissions, making processes faster and more transparent.
He also reported that 3, 020 completed schemes were verified through ground checks, with only one project found incomplete, which has been referred to the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team and Anti-Corruption Department.
Zahid Saleem further highlighted that the Bureau of Statistics has conducted comparative socio-economic analysis with other provinces, and that comprehensive employment data for 239, 000 applicants has been compiled to better design livelihood programs aimed at reducing unemployment and creating opportunities for youth.