QUETTA: The Balochistan provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, on Tuesday announced d to have taken a “historic decision” to resolve the long-standing issue of missing persons permanently.
According to a statement issued by the Balochistan government after the 22nd cabinet meeting, the chief minister said that the issue of missing persons had been politicized for years, adding that his government had “buried this propaganda permanently” through legal and institutional reforms.
The cabinet approved the Balochistan Prevention Detention and Radicalization Rules 2025, under which suspects will be interrogated at designated interrogation centres under the supervision of authorized police officers.
The chief minister stated that family members of suspects would be allowed to meet them, ensuring transparency and protection of basic rights.
The cabinet also approved the Balochistan Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Rules 2025 and passed the Balochistan Witness Protection Amendment Bill 2025, aiming to strengthen the prosecution of terrorism-related cases.
CM Bugti emphasized that protection of plaintiffs and witnesses would be ensured, particularly in terrorism cases, and said effective laws were essential for good governance.
Expressing satisfaction over merit-based recruitments through online testing in the Finance Department, the cabinet decided to digitize the recruitment process in all departments in a phased manner to promote transparency and merit.
Pishin Division
In a major administrative decision, the cabinet approved the abolition of the Religious Affairs Department, with its employees to be adjusted in other departments.
The cabinet also considered the formation of new divisions and districts and approved the establishment of two new divisions, Pishin and Koh-e-Sulaiman. It was decided that Ziarat would administratively fall under Loralai.
The cabinet approved the creation of the Municipal Committee Karbala in Pishin district, the evolution policy of law officers, and the Grant-in-Aid Amendment Policy of the Minority Affairs Department.
Taking an important step to curb child labor, the cabinet decided that children below the age of 16 would not be forced to work. It also declared the Higher Technical Education Department as an essential service.
The cabinet further approved the verification of the educational credentials of teachers recruited on a contract basis across Balochistan.
CM Bugti directed the Chief Minister Inspection Team to carry out degree verification, warning that FIRs would be registered against fake degree holders. The verification process will begin from Naseerabad and Dera Bugti.
In the education sector, the cabinet agreed to make the National Curriculum part of the provincial curriculum from the academic year 2026–27 and approved the launch of the Chief Minister’s Academic Excellence Program to support quality teachers. It also decided to recruit Mathematics, Science, and English teachers on an ad hoc basis in middle, high, and higher secondary schools.
Additionally, the cabinet considered establishing a food street from Saleem Complex to Imdad Chowk and from Taxi Stand to Liaquat Square, forming a committee to review the proposal.
The chief minister termed the approval of multiple key laws and policies as a “major success” of the provincial cabinet, asserting that the government was laying a solid foundation for governance, security, and institutional reforms in Balochistan.
