Consultation sought on new districts, divisions in Balochistan

Quetta, Pakistan – Lawmakers in Balochistan have voiced concerns over the provincial government's lack of consultation when establishing new districts and divisions. During Tuesday's session of the Balochistan Assembly, opposition members raised this issue, advocating for a consistent criterion based on population and area for creating new districts.

Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, presiding over the meeting, invited the senior member of the Board of Revenue to address the relocation of Pishin division's headquarters to Pishin town. Awami National Party leader Engineer Zamarak Khan Achakzai expressed gratitude to the chief minister for the creation of new divisions and districts, but highlighted that the five Pishin division representatives were not consulted about the change in headquarters.

The government had initially proposed Suranan as the divisional headquarters, but the location was later switched to Pishin without the elected representatives' input. JUI-F's Asghar Tareen called for elected members to be included in the decision-making process, while National Party President Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch pointed out that the number of districts could potentially double, but stressed the need for a clear explanation of where the necessary funds would be allocated.

Mir Zabid Ali Reki, also a JUI-F MPA, mentioned that Washuk was previously a district in 2004 and is now being split into two. Several other lawmakers echoed these concerns, urging the senior member of the Board of Revenue to explain the decision to relocate Pishin division's headquarters.