Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. SCREENGRAB
QUETTA:
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has put an end to swirling rumours of political upheaval in Balochistan by declaring that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti will serve his complete five-year term.
Speaking to PPP workers at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Friday, Bilawal showered praise on Bugti and his cabinet for their energetic performance, particularly in health and education.
“In a very short time, the CM and his team have delivered on key projects by meeting important deadlines,” he remarked as those present in the hall burst into applause.
The visit came amid growing speculation about possible in-house changes within the Balochistan Assembly. CM Bugti’s government is a coalition of the PPP, the PML-N and some other allies.
He also commended Bugti and his team for their dedication, noting that free education and healthcare would provide significant relief to the people.
“Everything is not perfect and many challenges remain, but if we continue working together with dedication, success will follow,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chief said free and quality healthcare is the right of every Pakistani, adding that efforts are underway to ensure the provision of basic facilities in underdeveloped regions. He also announced a fresh chapter of cooperation between Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
He revealed that the Sindh government plans to benefit from Balochistan’s experience by introducing Artificial Intelligence in the recruitment process for government jobs, including tasks and interviews.
Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated 11 healthcare projects in Quetta.
He formally opened Balochistan’s first paperless, state-of-the-art trauma centre in Quetta, dedicated to the memory of his mother Benazir Bhutto.
He also launched the province’s maiden People’s Air Ambulance Service, a much-needed facility for residents living in remote and difficult terrains. In addition, 164 new Basic Health Units were virtually inaugurated across Balochistan to strengthen primary healthcare at the grassroots level.
The PPP chairman said CM Bugti had originally planned to inaugurate 20 projects, but 11 were launched during the current visit, while the remaining projects would be inaugurated after Eid.
Bilawal added that he had requested the chief minister to invite him to Quetta more frequently to review development progress. He highlighted that government support for ordinary citizens not only provides relief but also strengthens the country and its economy.
He noted that global economic challenges disproportionately affect underdeveloped regions, making healthcare a fundamental right that must be accessible to all, regardless of financial status.
He also addressed maternal mortality concerns, recalling PPP’s efforts in Sindh to reduce such rates and pledging similar measures in Balochistan.
He announced collaboration with the ChildLife Foundation to enhance emergency healthcare and suggested that the provincial government partner with the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) to further strengthen healthcare delivery.
Acknowledging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s support in providing funds, Bilawal stressed that digital systems in healthcare and recruitment would yield positive outcomes. Bilawal also announced plans to establish the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases model in Balochistan similar to Sindh.
He said opponents spreading negative propaganda against Pakistan and the province were being answered through practical development work. “The journey of public service in Balochistan will continue despite challenges such as inflation, poverty, and declining purchasing power,” he said.
