Balochistan | Pakistan

Rallies were organised in several cities of Balochistan on the completion of one year of the success of Marka-e-Haq, with participants expressing solidarity with the Pakistan Army.

QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), Balochistan, has announced the launch of a protest movement against raids on religious seminaries across the province. Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey, the provincial chief of the JUI-F, stated that a province-wide shutter-down strike and protest demonstrations would take place on May 6. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he said that on May 10, seminary students and party workers from across Balochistan would march towards Quetta. He added that JUI-F members in the provincial assembly would stage strong protests inside the Balochistan Assembly. He also announced that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would address a JUI conference in Pishin on June 4. These decisions were taken during a meeting of the JUI-F’s provincial leadership and later announced at the press conference. Opposition Leader Mir Younas Aziz Zehri, Maulana Salahuddin, Maulana Faiz Muhammad, Agha Mehmood Shah, Malik Sikandar, and others were also present. Red line Maulana Wasey alleged his party f...

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Saturday rejected a plea by the Balochistan government to grant lifetime facilities to retired chief secretaries and their widows. Justice Aamer Farooq, who headed the FCC two-judge bench, observed that the Balochistan government notification was over and above the pensionary benefits granted to chief secretaries. The judgment explained that the Rules of Business do not empower the provincial government to issue such directions by way of notification, especially when there was no legal backing. The FCC ruling came on an appeal filed by Balochistan’s chief secretary against the May 29, 2023, Balochistan High Court (BHC) judgment, which had also struck down Notification No. 13-25(5)/2019/SO-1(S&GAD) extending lifetime facilities to retired chief secretaries and their widows. The controversy arose from a notification challenged before the BHC by Bayazid Khan Kharooti, which the court accepted. The high court held that such benefits could not be granted without...

Security forces thwarted an attempted attack in the Dhadar area of Balochistan, killing several militants in an exchange of fire, officials said on Saturday.

QUETTA: At least nine people working at a copper and gold project site in Balochistan’s Chagai district were killed in an armed attack by unidentified assailants, according to officials. In a statement, the mining company National Resources Limited (NRL) said the attack took place on Wednesday evening, adding that security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the area and launched a clearance operation. The company did not mention any casualties in its statement. However, local authorities confirmed the incident and nine casualties. “At least nine employees, including two security guards, were killed,” a senior official of the Chagai administration said on condition of anonymity. Police officials also confirmed the attack and the killing of nine people. All nine bodies were taken to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin. In its statement, NRL said it remained “fully committed to the development and empowerment of local communities in Balochistan, with a strong focus on improving live...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced 460 scholarships for students from Balochistan for the academic year 2025–26, in a move aimed at promoting equitable access to higher education.

Temperatures are rising across the country, with the mercury crossing 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Sindh and Balochistan, the Met Office said on Monday.

DERA MURAD JAMALI: A police constable was martyred on Wednesday after unknown armed men opened fire on a polio team in Dera Murad Jamali town of Balochistan’s Nasirabad district, police said. According to police officials, the polio team was on its way home on a lunch break when armed men on motorcycles opened fire on the police personnel accompanying them. As a result, Constable Farhan Bashir was martyred. “A constable was martyred after armed men opened fire on police personnel. However, the other members of the team remained unhurt in the firing,” Nasirabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asad Nasar told Dawn. The assailants fired ten 9mm bullets at the constable, resulting in his death on the spot, the SSP said, adding that the assailants fled from the scene. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Nasar said, adding that a search operation had been launched to find out the miscreants involved in the incident. Nasirabad Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Karrar said the anti-polio ca...

Light rainfall in Quetta and nearby areas has made the weather pleasant, while more showers are expected in several parts of Balochistan, according to the Meteorological Department.

The Government of Balochistan has officially set the price of Iranian petrol at Rs280 per litre across the province, warning of strict legal action against overcharging.

QUETTA/ PESHAWAR: Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments announced energy conservation measures on Sunday, setting timings for the closure of markets, eateries and wedding halls. According to a notification issued by the Balochistan Home Department, all markets and shopping centres are to be closed by 8pm. However, pharmacies, tandoors and bakeries have been exempted from the restriction. The notification also stated that all events being held in wedding halls, banquet halls and hotels must end by 10pm, and that restaurants should also close by 10pm. It said the provincial government had directed district administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure strict implementation of the orders and violators would face action under relevant laws. Divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and police officials have also been instructed to ensure immediate enforcement of the new directives. Closure timings in KP Similarly, a public notice issued by the office of the KP chief secretary said all market...

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday predicted widespread rain and thunderstorms in northeast Balochistan, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and south Punjab on April 6 (Monday). In a statement, the Met Office said, “Widespread rain-windstorm/thunderstorm (with isolated heavyfalls and hailstorm) is expected in northeast Balochistan, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and south Punjab, while partly cloudy weather with rain windstorm/thunderstorm is likely at isolated places in Sindh, upper/central Punjab, south/central Balochistan, upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during evening/night of Monday.” The Met Office also issued a warning, saying there were chances of flash floods in local nullahs or streams in northeast Balochistan, lower KP and hill torrents of Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan on April 6 due to heavy rainfall. It said that landslides and flash flooding could also occur in local nullahs or streams of Kashmir, upper KP, Murree and Galiyat on April 7 and 8. “Windstorm/ hailstorm and lightning may damage wea...

QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Saturday fixed the price of Iranian smuggled petrol at Rs280 per litre and announced that strict action would be taken against those charging more than this rate. Officials said that a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti decided that Iranian petrol would be sold in Balochistan at a fixed price announced by the provincial government. “The Iranian petrol will be sold only in Balochistan, and it will not be allowed to be sent out of the province,” said Kalat Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Durrani, adding that nobody would be allowed to charge more than the fixed rate. He said there was no justification for selling Iranian petrol at the rate announced by the federal government for imported petroleum products. “The authorities will start strict checks and will take legal action against those found selling Iranian petrol at higher prices.” People involved in the Iranian petrol business had increased prices soon after the federal government announced highe...

• Over 30 districts face flood-like situation as severe weather persists • Lightning kills 12-year-old girl; flash floods damage infrastructure, cause widespread communication disruptions • Rescuers save 15 from stranded van; major highways cut off • Authorities ban travel; Met Office warns of severe flooding through April 3 QUETTA: A fresh spell of heavy, intermittent rain accompanied by strong winds, thunder and hail has pummelled more than 30 districts across Balochistan over the past 24 hours, triggering flash floods that have caused widespread disruption, infrastructure damage and at least one fatality. Widespread heavy rainfall was reported on Wed­n­esday in Quetta, Khuz­dar, Kalat, Surab, Lasbela, Hub, Kech, Gwadar, Qila Saifullah, Qila Abdullah, Zhob, Harnai, Loralai, Kohlu, Awaran, Kharan, Mastung, Sherani, Ziarat and other areas, creating flood-like conditions in many localities. Low-lying areas have been submerged, flash flo­ods have damaged emb­a­n­kments, and residents are facing severe hardships...

The Health Services Academy (HSA) and the Project Management Unit (PMU-HSRMU), Government of Balochistan, have signed two strategic agreements aimed at strengthening the provincial healthcare workforce and improving service delivery in underserved areas.

A significant gas pipeline explosion in Akhtarabad has caused widespread disruption of gas supply across several districts in Balochistan, authorities confirmed.

Schools in Sindh and Balochistan will resume classes from April 1 (Wednesday) and follow a five-day working week amid the fuel crisis, the provincial governments said on Tuesday. On March 9, the Balochistan provincial government had announced that educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, would remain closed from March 10 to March 31 due to the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. According to a notification posted on the provincial government’s X account, it was announced that “all schools (public and private) in Balochistan shall re-open with effect from April 1 (Wednesday)”. However, it added that due to the current fuel situation, “all schools (public & private), the provincial directorate, divisional directorates and the district offices of the School Education Department shall observe a five-day working week (Monday to Friday)”. Saturday and Sunday will remain off, the notification said. “All examinations/assessments shall be conducted as per the notif...

Flood roads in Balochistan; picnic ban imposed in Mastung

Security forces in Balochistan have arrested a female suicide bomber, foiling a major terrorist plot, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD - The centre and the provincial government on Monday agreed to deploy newly restructured Federal Constabulary in Balochistan to restore peace in the troubled region.