Chief Minister imposes ban on leave for key departments amidst budget preparations
Independent Report
QUETTA: The Chief Minister, Mir Sarfraz Bugti has imposed ban on leaves for employees of key government departments to ensure timely and effective preparation of the budget for fiscal year 2025–26. The departments are included the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Chief Secretary’s Office, Finance Department, and the Planning & Development Department. This important decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, where a detailed review of the budget preparations and the overall size of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) was conducted. The meeting was attended by Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary for Planning & Development Hafiz Abdul Basit, Secretary Finance Imran Zarkoon, spokesman of provincial government, Shahid Rind, and senior officials from concerned departments. During the meeting, CM Bugti was briefed on budget preparations, proposed development schemes, fiscal priorities, and matters related to financial discipline. He said that budget formulation is a critical and sensitive process that requires the full availability and capacity of all concerned departments. The Chief Minister directed that all development schemes should be designed in line with ground realities, public needs, and the province’s financial capacity. He stressed the importance of adopting strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of development funds and called for a culture of austerity by reducing unnecessary government expenditures, ensuring that public resources are maximally utilized for the welfare of the people. Mir Sarfraz Bugti affirmed that the upcoming budget will be aligned with public needs and aspirations, aiming to create development opportunities for all segments of society. He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency, coordination, and consultation throughout the budget-making process. It was unanimously agreed during the meeting that all departments will work in close coordination to expedite and ensure transparency in the budget-making process. On-going schemes will be reviewed, and new priority projects will be included based on necessity and impact.
