Administration, not language, should define new provinces: CM Bugti

Says it is not possible to effectively administer the entire province from Quetta

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said that if the government considered carving out additional provinces from Balochistan, the move should be based on administrative ease rather than linguistic divisions.

Speaking via video link to media anchors, senior journalists and other representatives at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Bugti stressed the need for a governance structure capable of effectively serving the province’s vast and diverse population.

He said it was not possible to effectively administer the entire province from Quetta and emphasised the need for an administrative framework that could improve governance and service delivery.

بلوچستان میں آخری دہشت گرد کی موجودگی تک جنگ جاری رہے گی، دہشت گردی کے خلاف سول اور عسکری قیادت متفق اور یکسو ہے، اس معاملے پر کوئی ابہام یا کنفیوژن نہیں۔وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان میر سرفراز بگٹی

کوئٹہ، 12 ستمبر 2026
وزیر اعلیٰ بلوچستان میر سرفراز بگٹی نے کہا ہے کہ بلوچستان میں آخری… pic.twitter.com/V71rrVEa5n

— Chief Minister's Office Balochistan (@CMOBalochistan) September 12, 2026

The chief minister’s remarks came during an interaction in which Balochistan’s overall security situation, development process, mineral resources, mining sector and political affairs were discussed in detail.

The issue of creating additional administrative units or provinces emerged last month when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called for an overhaul of what he described as the country’s outdated governance system.

Addressing the Pakistan Economic Summit 2026 in Islamabad, Naqvi argued that Pakistan’s existing governance model had effectively “collapsed” after decades of failing to deliver, and said decentralisation was essential to improve public services, ensure timely justice and create opportunities for young people.

His stance appeared to be supported by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry the following day, when he said an administrative reset, if required, should be undertaken to ensure good governance.

Read More: Parliament to decide on creating new provinces: Sanaullah

The issue, however, drew particular attention in Sindh, which passed a resolution earlier this month rejecting any proposal to divide the province or alter its territorial limits. Opposition parties, including the PTI and JUI-F, also criticised the move, saying the current parliament had no legitimacy to take such a major step.

The issue is expected to come up for debate in parliament and the Senate next month.

Meanwhile, officials from various provincial departments briefed the chief minister on the government’s development and governance strategy.

The Planning and Development Department outlined measures for improving service delivery, ensuring effective utilisation of development funds and completing development schemes on time.

Bugti said that development projects were now being completed in record time compared to the past, saying the government was seeking to make development more effective, result-oriented and responsive to public needs.

Representatives of the Minerals and Resources Department briefed the chief minister on Balochistan’s mineral potential, ongoing mining projects and steps taken to generate greater economic benefits from the province’s natural resources.

Officials from the Home and Tribal Affairs Department briefed him on the law and order situation, the Provincial Action Plan, police reforms and progress on the merger of the Balochistan Levies Force into the police.

They also briefed the chief minister on the Safe City project, relevant legislation and coordination among law-enforcement agencies.

During the question-and-answer session, the Pakistan Peoples Party-backed chief minister said the fight against terrorism would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated.

“The civil and military leadership stands united in its approach to combating militancy,” he said.

“There is no ambiguity or confusion on this issue,” he added, saying state institutions were working in harmony to deal with terrorism.

Bugti also ruled out talks with those who had taken up arms against the state.

A day earlier, a senior security official had called for a fresh political and strategic approach to Balochistan, arguing that the province’s complex problems could not be resolved through the use of force alone and that the way forward lay in sustained dialogue with Baloch people.

Also Read: ‘Sindh is one, shall remain one’: Assembly passes resolution against division of province

On political developments, Bugti acknowledged a lack of information about any power-sharing agreement under which the provincial government would change leadership after two and a half years. He quickly clarified that any decision regarding a change in government rested with the political leadership.

“As long as I hold this office, I will serve the people,” he pledged.

Speaking about corruption, the chief minister said he would not claim that the problem had been completely eliminated, but asserted that its level had declined over the years.

He also said the government was taking measures to ensure merit in government departments, including educational institutions.

On the repatriation of foreign nationals, Bugti said around 1.1 million Afghan refugees, besides other foreign nationals, had been sent back to their respective countries from Balochistan.

Responding to a question about missing persons, the chief minister said the issue had been “taken out of context” in the media and other forums, resulting in an “incomplete picture” of the ongoing situation.

He reiterated that terrorism was a national issue and not confined to Balochistan or any other province, and called for collective efforts to eliminate the threat.