Balochistan | Pakistan

The federal government agreed to provide $390 million to the Reko Diq mining project to build rail tracks from mines in Balochistan, according to the Finance Division on Thursday. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in Islamabad, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to a press release from the Finance Division. The press release stated that the railways ministry submitted a summary on rail development and bridge financing agreements with the Reko Diq Mining Company, to provide $390m for laying a 1,350-kilometre railway track to transport large volumes of export material from mines in Balochistan. “The ECC approved the proposal and directed the Ministry of Railways to share both agreement documents with the Finance Division for appraisal,” the press release read. “It further instructed the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Finance to submit an update to the ECC by March next year on the execution and implementation of the project.” Ad...

Four terrorists “belonging to Indian proxy” were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. “On September 17 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan, on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. The ISPR statement said that during the operation, “own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location”, adding that “after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell”. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from slain terrorists, the ISPR said. The terrorists were “actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area”, it added. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted ...

At least one policeman was martyred, while two Levies personnel were injured after armed unknown assailants attacked two police stations and a Levies station in Balochistan’s Sherani district on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar said. “The police and Levies personnel retaliated, and an exchange of fire went on for three hours,” DC Sherani said in a statement, adding that the retaliation prevented any major damage. “However, one policeman was martyred during the attack and two Levies personnel were injured, while another Levies official remains missing,” he said. He added that the deceased was identified as Aftab-ur-Rehman, while the two injured — identified as Kalu Khan and Abdul Wahid — were rushed to the Trauma Centre in Quetta. “A search operation is underway to look for the assailants. They attacked the police with rocket launchers, snipers, and explosives, damaging the stations’ communication system,” he said. “The unknown assailants set a Levies vehicle on fire along with another vehicle ...

QUETTA - In a landmark move toward transparency and digital governance, Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti Monday announced the launch of country’s first-ever automated digital financial e-filing system in Balochistan.

QUETTA - Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Friday said that the decisions of the provincial cabinet were guarantee of the public interest and long-term development of Balochistan.

Security forces killed four terrorists on Friday in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Mastung area, the military’s media wing said in a statement. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the IBO was carried out on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan. The state uses the term Fitna al Khwarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. It later designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. “During the conduct of [the] operation, own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” said the ISPR. The statement added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the dead terrorists, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities in the area. “[A] sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate a...

ISLAMABAD - The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday issued a high alert for flash floods in Balochistan.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday issued a high alert for flash floods in Balochistan, warning of heavy rains in several districts over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), with support from intelligence agencies, killed four terrorists linked to Fitna al-Hindustan during a joint operation in Balochistan’s Pishin district.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday warned of possible flooding in parts of Sindh and Balochistan due to expected widespread rainfall over the next 48 hours.

QUETTA: Six opposition political parties have announced a complete wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across Balochistan on Monday (today) to protest against the suicide bombing that targeted a BNP-Mengal public meeting at Shahwani Stadium on Sept 2. Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, former National Party senator Mir Kabir Muhammad Shahi, and ANP leader Asghar Achakzai remained unhurt in the suicide attack as they had left the venue just a few minutes before the blast. Traders, transporters, and businesses pledge support to opposition alliance Leaders of six opposition parties — Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Aain-i-Pakistan, Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and National Party — strongly condemned the tragic incident in a meeting and announced a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike throughout the province. They declared that during the strike highways, intercity roads, and routes leading to Quetta airport ...

ISLAMABAD: The ‘worsening’ law and order situation in Balochistan overshadowed the ongoing debate on the flood situation in the National Assembly on Friday as the lawmakers belonging to the province protested over the alleged government’s failure to protect life and property of the citizens in the wake of recent spike in terrorism incidents. The house also passed a resolution “condemning in the strongest words” the recent suicide bombing at the public meeting of the BNP-Mengal in Quetta and “demanding of the provincial government to bring the perpetrators to justice.” The resolution, read out by Pullain Baloch of the National Party (NP), said that 15 people died and more than 75 people were injured in the incident. The blast took place near Shahwani Stadium in Quetta’s Sariab area on Tuesday night, shortly after the conclusion of the public meeting of the BNP-M held to mark the death anniversary of late Sardar Attaullah Mengal. Lawmakers slam govt’s handling of situation in the province; cite ongoing ‘militar...

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday reaffirmed the government’s readiness to engage with Balochistan’s leadership and political representatives to find practical solutions to the province’s longstanding issues.

Parties call Sept 8 strike in Balochistan

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday approved a change in the constitution of the 11th National Finance Commission (NFC) after Balochistan revised its nomination, a statement by the president’s secretariat said. The 11th NFC was constituted on August 22 to prepare a new award for sharing federal divisible resources between the Centre and the provinces. Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the NFC includes four provincial finance ministers and four non-statutory members, one from each province. Its inaugural session, however, was postponed on the request of the Sindh government “due to the impending flood situation”. As per the statement released today, the change became necessary after the “Government of Balochistan revised its nomination, recommending Mahfooz Ali Khan as its non ex-officio member in the 11th NFC”. The statement added that the president has given the nod to this nomination, superseding the earlier approval. The terms of reference set under clause 2 of Article 160 require the 11th...

Train operations from Balochistan to other parts of the country were suspended on Saturday as heavy flooding disrupted sections of the rail network.

Train operations from Balochistan resumed on Wednesday after a two-day suspension caused by heavy rainfall.

Security forces have successfully neutralized a major formation of Fitna al-Khawarij attempting to infiltrate the border in the Sambaza region of Balochistan.

Pakistan has received a grant of $6 million from China for the construction of houses in Balochistan.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Turbat and reaffirmed the military’s unwavering support for initiatives aimed at improving Balochistan’s socio-economic conditions, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. The government has repeatedly voiced its commitment to the development of Balochistan — a province with severe infrastructure deficits, recurring protests and a bleak law and order situation. In June, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed it one of the top priorities. Field Marshal Munir interacted with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and representatives of the Turbat civil administration during his visit, according to a press release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). “The visit aimed to review the prevailing security situation, assess development initiatives, and reinforce coordination between military and civil institutions for the stability and prosperity of Balochistan,” the statement read. During his interaction with the Turbat administration’s represent...