By: Chaudhry Shabbir Balochistani : Published by ANI
Balochistan is passing through a phase in which its people need more than political slogans and traditional announcements. They need practical performance, better governance, peace, employment opportunities and a clear direction for the future. In such circumstances, it is important to assess the performance of the present provincial government in a constructive and impartial manner: good work should be appreciated wholeheartedly, weaknesses should be addressed through sincere advice, and areas requiring improvement should be supported with practical and workable proposals.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial government has undertaken a number of initiatives in education, healthcare, development planning, employment opportunities for youth, digital governance and administrative reforms. These measures have created an impression that the government is attempting to address Balochistan’s challenges through a modern administrative and developmental approach rather than relying solely on conventional methods.
One positive aspect of Sarfraz Bugti’s leadership is his apparent effort to give greater importance to decision-making and administrative performance. In a province as vast as Balochistan, where geographical challenges, law and order, unemployment, educational backwardness and limited resources are closely interconnected, the success of any government will depend not merely on budgets and development projects, but on continuous monitoring, merit, transparency and effective implementation.
It is also a reality that Balochistan’s problems cannot be completely resolved by any single government or individual. The government therefore needs to broaden its consultative framework and benefit from the experience of political, administrative and intellectual circles across the province.
Balochistan’s political landscape includes many experienced individuals who have closely observed the province’s political and social conditions for decades. The government should benefit from the political insight, understanding of ground realities and extensive experience of seasoned PML-N leaders and former ministers, particularly Shoaib Nosherwani and Saleem Khosa.
Similarly, the current Governor of Balochistan, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, is a political figure with a long political career and extensive experience. His political insight, understanding of provincial and federal affairs, and relationships with diverse political and social groups constitute a valuable asset. His guidance and advice should not be confined merely to formal constitutional matters; rather, his experience should be effectively incorporated into discussions on the province’s major political, administrative, economic and developmental issues.
However, consultation should not remain confined to government circles. Balochistan’s political landscape also includes seasoned, thoughtful and far-sighted politicians such as Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, Nawab Aslam Raisani and Mir Sadiq Sanjrani, all of whom have closely observed provincial politics and governance at different points in time.
Political differences have their own place, but in the broader interest of Balochistan, the positive opinion of every individual possessing experience and wisdom can be valuable. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti should establish a periodic consultative process with such experienced political leaders. This would not only add maturity to government decision-making but could also promote a more positive and mature political culture in the province.
The Need for an Independent Policy Think Tank for Balochistan
In this context, an important proposal is that the Government of Balochistan establish a formal “Balochistan Policy and Governance Think Tank”, operating outside the existing governmental and parliamentary structures and providing independent and impartial advice to the government.
Instead of parliamentary representatives, the forum should include experienced individuals with political insight who have remained associated with different political parties, whether currently part of the government or outside it, but who possess a deep understanding of Balochistan’s political, social and economic challenges.
The forum should also include retired and experienced bureaucrats, academics, university professors, economists, lawyers, experts in public administration, business-sector professionals, social development specialists, and educated and talented young people.
The purpose of this think tank should not be to establish a parallel political centre to the government. Rather, its objective should be to provide policy recommendations based on research, experience and collective wisdom.
Whether the issue concerns law and order, education and healthcare, employment for young people, agriculture and irrigation, minerals, industry, investment, tourism, urban development or digital governance, the government can benefit from structured consultation with specialists in each field.
The recommendations of this forum should not automatically become decisions of any single individual. Instead, they should be presented through the Chief Minister and relevant departments before the provincial cabinet. The cabinet should review the proposals, seek the views of concerned ministers and departments, and incorporate those recommendations into government policy that are found to be in the broader interest of the province.
Such a mechanism could provide the government with an intellectual and research-based support system capable of examining problems from a long-term perspective, relatively free from the pressures of day-to-day political and administrative affairs.
Bringing Young People into the World of Policy-Making
Educated and talented young people should be given meaningful representation in this think tank. The youth of Balochistan are not merely waiting for government jobs; they possess the ability to offer new ideas and innovative solutions in technology, education, entrepreneurship, economics and modern governance.
If young minds are brought into the intellectual process of policymaking, it will strengthen the relationship of trust between the government and the younger generation. It will also give young people a sense that they are active participants in shaping the future of their province.
Appreciation Alongside Constructive Criticism
It is important to acknowledge the government’s positive initiatives, but good governance also requires the ability to accept constructive criticism. An effective think tank is not one that praises every government decision; rather, it is one capable of identifying where improvement is required, where resources are being wasted and where policies need to be reconsidered.
One of the major problems in Balochistan in the past has been the gap between announcements and implementation. If the present government succeeds in reducing this gap, it will represent a significant achievement. Every major project should have a clear timeline, defined standards, monitoring mechanisms and a system of accountability before the public.
The real measure of development is not simply how many projects have been approved, but how much those projects have improved the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
A school is successful when teachers are present and children are regularly receiving education. A hospital is successful when patients receive doctors, medicines and timely treatment. A youth policy is successful when young people are offered not merely promises, but genuine opportunities for skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.
Similarly, law and order and economic development in Balochistan cannot be treated as separate issues. Peace attracts investment; investment creates employment; employment generates hope among young people; and hope forms the foundation of a stable society.
A Historic Opportunity for Sarfraz Bugti
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has an important opportunity to move beyond routine administrative decision-making and introduce a new culture of policy development, consultation and governance in Balochistan.
If, on one hand, there is Sarfraz Bugti’s political and administrative leadership, while on the other hand the government benefits from the wisdom of experienced PML-N leaders and former ministers, particularly Shoaib Nosherwani and Saleem Khosa, incorporates the broad political understanding and experience of Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail into meaningful consultation, and also draws upon the views of experienced and thoughtful politicians such as Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, Nawab Aslam Raisani and Mir Sadiq Sanjrani, a new political tradition could emerge in Balochistan.
Alongside this, the establishment of an independent policy think tank comprising retired bureaucrats, experts, intellectuals, educated young people, economic and legal specialists, and thoughtful individuals from diverse political and social backgrounds could provide the government with permanent and impartial intellectual support for policymaking.
It must be remembered that governments come and go, but strong institutions, sound policies and effective systems can endure for generations.
Today, Balochistan needs not merely politics, but a combination of political insight, administrative experience, youthful thinking and collective wisdom.
The positive initiatives of the present government should be encouraged, while sincere advice should be offered wherever reform is required. The government must learn to view differences of opinion not as a weakness but as a strength, and criticism not as hostility but as an instrument for improvement.
If the present leadership of Balochistan succeeds in bringing together the wisdom of experience, the energy of youth and the strength of collective knowledge in a common direction, it can lay the foundation not merely for another term of government, but for a new political and administrative culture in the province.
The road to Balochistan’s new direction will not be built through major projects alone. It will be shaped by sound leadership, experience, wisdom, consultation, peace, merit and consistent implementationِ
