Rs200 billion allocated for Balochistan development projects

Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said the government has allocated Rs200 billion in the development budget for projects in Balochistan, describing it as the largest provincial allocation.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, he said the government was prioritising development in Balochistan and taking steps to expand educational and economic opportunities for its people.

Iqbal announced that an additional 5,000 scholarships would be awarded to students from Balochistan and the tribal districts under the second phase of the scholarship programme. The initiative will enable students to pursue higher education at leading universities.

He said education was essential to overcoming underdevelopment and improving opportunities for young people. The government would also launch a solarisation project in the tribal districts and introduce a programme to equip local youth with digital skills.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik told the National Assembly that fuel prices were determined by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) through a transparent mechanism based on the seven-day average of international market prices.

Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Malik said refineries had reduced their gross refining margins on the prime minister’s instructions, resulting in lower petrol and diesel prices. He also said Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) was being restructured to improve its operational efficiency.

On export policy, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said the Export Facilitation Scheme would continue to provide exporters with access to quality inputs and raw materials. He explained that the scheme allows duty-free imports of eligible materials and inputs.

Kayani said the government would work with relevant stakeholders to prevent the scheme from being misused while ensuring that exporters continued to benefit from the facility.

Separately, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kesoo Mal Kheal Das said religious minorities enjoyed freedom of worship in Pakistan.

Responding to a point of order, he said the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company would be instructed to avoid load-shedding during Diwali celebrations to facilitate the Hindu community.

The National Assembly is scheduled to meet again on Thursday at 4pm.