QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti has announced that Class-IV employees posted in various districts from outside their native areas will be sent back to their respective districts. He also said that investigations into irregularities in the overseas employment program for youth are ongoing and those involved in fraud will be punished.
During a session of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, in response to a question raised by MPA Gwadar Moulana Hidayat ur Rehman, it was revealed that 19 non-local individuals are currently working in Class-IV positions in Gwadar. The Chief Minister stated that similar cases have been reported in several districts of the province where people from other areas have been appointed to low-grade posts.
He said a formal inquiry is underway and those appointed from other districts will be repatriated to their home districts. “It is unfair that despite the availability of local candidates in Gwadar, drivers and other low-grade posts have been filled by outsiders,” he added.
Separately, National Party member Rehmat Saleh Baloch raised a call attention notice regarding the Chief Minister Youth Skill Development Program. He said that under the initiative launched in October 2024, 30,000 trained youths were to be sent to Gulf and European countries including Germany and Romania for employment. However, only about 250 youths were sent to Saudi Arabia, where they were reportedly left without proper company placements, causing serious concern among their families. Thousands of others are still waiting for deployment abroad.
Responding to the concerns, Provincial Minister Sadiq Umrani said that 250 youths had been sent abroad, out of which 37 returned, while 100 are reportedly satisfied and employed. He said 90 complaints were received, including 50 minor and 40 serious ones, which have been taken up with the concerned companies. He added that alternative employment opportunities would be arranged within a month for those affected.
He further informed the House that no youth has yet been sent to European countries, although those arranging visas on their own are being given 70 percent financial support by the government. He said 800 applications were received by B-TEVTA, out of which 300 candidates were selected and will be issued government cheques.
During the discussion, Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch alleged that consultants were paid between Rs2.5 to Rs3.6 million per person and fake payments were issued in the names of 36 individuals. He also claimed that 70 youths had been deported.
Chief Minister Bugti, responding to the call attention notice, said the government had always maintained that youth would be skill-trained and sent abroad for employment, mostly for labor jobs rather than white-collar positions. “However, genuine problems will be resolved,” he assured.
He further said irregularities were identified in the overseas employment program, after which the Director General was removed and an investigation was launched. “Those who secured tenders and committed fraud will be punished,” he said, adding that Punjab had also adopted a similar model. He announced a shift toward an open-market policy where companies will train youth and place them in jobs, while the government will provide financial support.
Following the response, the call attention notice was disposed of.
In another matter, Moulana Hidayat ur Rehman raised a call attention notice regarding the Saindak Project, asking how much revenue from the project has been allocated for local education, health, and basic infrastructure, and how much has been spent so far. He also sought details about the current contract duration and safeguards for Balochistan’s interests.
Provincial Minister for Minerals Mir Shuaib Nosherwani informed the House that over Rs850 million had been spent under CSR funds, while the province is also receiving royalty payments. The notice was subsequently disposed of.
