ISLAMABAD, Nov 6 (INP-Wealth Pakistan): The federal government has released Rs2.77 billion for Balochistan-related development schemes listed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for fiscal year 2025–26, according to an official working paper shared with the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.
Allocation and disbursement details
The document, available with Wealth Pakistan, shows that against a revised allocation of Rs24.49 billion for Balochistan schemes under “Demand No.109 – Other Development Expenditure, Provinces & Special Areas,” total releases so far stand at Rs2,772.650 million. The combined revised allocation for all provinces is Rs92.79 billion, with total releases of Rs3.01 billion to date, meaning Balochistan accounts for nearly 92 percent of the funds issued so far under this head.
Priority sectors in Balochistan portfolio
The Balochistan portfolio is dominated by road connectivity, water resources, and municipal infrastructure—areas that provincial legislators often describe as core development gaps. The road sector includes construction of black-top roads and bypasses in remote districts as well as strategic links connecting agricultural valleys and mineral clusters with national highways.
Major ongoing and new projects
Among the Balochistan-specific schemes listed are the construction of Ghand Dam in Baker, Dera Bugti; a 110-km road from Chedagi (Iran border) to Panjgur; a 15.5-km Northern Bypass in Loralai; a 103-km black-top road from Zhob to Mekhtar via Murgha Kibzai linking the N-50 and N-70 corridors; and multiple black-top roads in Taftan, Chaghai District. The list also includes local facilities such as schools, basic health units, and sanitation schemes in Quetta, Kech, Panjgur, Chaghai, Washuk, Kalat, Killa Saifullah, Zhob, and Ziarat.
Utilization trends and early-year focus
The working paper indicates that most ongoing projects are receiving standard tranches between Rs196 million and Rs700 million to maintain progress during the first half of the fiscal year. New or feasibility-stage projects show little or no release yet, a pattern typical of early quarters when approvals, procurement, and land acquisition are still in progress.
Roads and connectivity as top priority
The early-year emphasis on connectivity reflects Balochistan’s geography, where long internal distances make road development essential. Links such as the Zhob–Murgha Kibzai–Mekhtar connection between the N-50 and N-70 corridors are expected to shorten travel times to central Punjab, lower freight costs, and improve market access for agricultural and mineral goods. Similarly, the Chedagi-to-Panjgur Road, beginning near the Iranian border, will strengthen regional trade once customs and border facilities are upgraded.
Focus on water and urban services
Water security is the second major pillar in the province’s PSDP portfolio. The Ghand Dam project represents Balochistan’s ongoing effort to build small and medium-sized reservoirs that can stabilize irrigation supplies in drought-prone regions. Even small disbursements to such schemes help unlock parallel activities like land acquisition and contractor mobilization.
Urban infrastructure projects—especially for Quetta—cover drainage, solid waste handling, streetlighting, and traffic management. Although smaller in scale than inter-district roads, these schemes visibly improve civic conditions and service delivery in the provincial capital.
Development impact and policy alignment
With Rs2.77 billion already released out of the Rs24.49 billion allocation, utilization remains modest but consistent with previous years’ first-quarter trends. Releases typically accelerate in later quarters as projects achieve measurable progress milestones such as structure casting or equipment delivery.
The report notes that prioritizing roads, water, and municipal services matches Balochistan’s most immediate development needs. Better connectivity reduces costs, widens labor markets, and attracts private investment in logistics and mining. Improved water management supports agriculture and drought resilience, while urban services enhance daily life and administrative efficiency.
Conclusion
According to the working paper, Balochistan has so far received the largest share of PSDP funds released among provinces. The government’s early-year focus on connectivity and essential infrastructure reflects a pragmatic approach aimed at addressing long-standing bottlenecks and unlocking wider economic multipliers across the province.