Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced a Rs300 billion four-lane Quetta-Karachi highway project and the establishment of five Danish schools in Balochistan, saying development and security would move forward together in the province.

Addressing political leaders at a meeting in Quetta, the prime minister said that despite persistent challenges, the political leadership remained focused on serving the public.

He said peace was gradually being restored due to the efforts of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

The prime minister vowed to continue the development drive in Balochistan.

The prime minister congratulated Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on being elected chief of the Bugti tribes and praised cabinet members and political leaders for their role in supporting stability and governance in the province.

Referring to militancy, PM Shehbaz said terrorist groups, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan were receiving support from neighbouring countries.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of security personnel and civilians, and said the government would not rest until terrorism was eliminated.

He said the Field Marshal Asim Munir was leading the fight against terrorism and congratulated him and his colleagues, adding that India had been given a “historic lesson” in the recent conflict.

On development and federal support, the prime minister said Balochistan’s leadership had demanded an increase in the province’s share under the NFC Award.

He said Punjab had provided Rs11 billion from its own share to support projects in Balochistan.

Providing details of the road project, he said the Chaman-Quetta-Karachi route would be upgraded into a four-lane highway at an estimated cost of Rs300 billion, adding that savings from recent reductions in petroleum prices had been earmarked for the scheme.

Highlighting education, the prime minister said children in Balochistan were highly talented and announced the launch of five Danish schools to improve access to quality education.

He reiterated that the federal government would continue working with the provincial leadership to address public hardships caused by terrorism and underdevelopment, and to sustain the development momentum in the province.

Chairs meeting on law and order

Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on law and order, during which CM Bugti briefed him on the security situation and ongoing development projects in the province.

He also held a one-on-one meeting with Governor Jehangir Khan Mandokhail at the Governor’s House, where the political situation, development initiatives and the latest provincial affairs were discussed.

Later, PM Shehbaz met separately with the chief minister and members of the Balochistan cabinet at the Chief Minister’s House.

Detailed briefings were also given on development projects currently underway in the province.

PM Shehbaz’s meeting with Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail focused on ongoing development initiatives across the province.

The governor briefed the prime minister on the progress of various development projects.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Aleem Khan, Rana Sanaullah, and prominent political leaders from Balochistan.