Quetta | ReNews Pakistan

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced a comprehensive development package for the newly established Koh e Suleman Division, stating that the region’s elevation to divisional status will be accompanied by substantial investment in civic infrastructure, planned urban growth and improved public services.

Addressing a large public gathering in Rakhni, now designated as the divisional headquarters, the chief minister said the area had remained neglected for decades due to weak administrative presence and limited public investment. He emphasised that the government’s objective was to link administrative restructuring with tangible development outcomes rather than symbolic change.

Under the development package, the provincial government will establish a fifty bed hospital, complete a residential college and finalise construction of the Naharkot Dam to address water supply and irrigation needs. Rakhni will also be granted the status of a municipal committee, strengthening its local governance framework. The municipal body will be renamed Municipal Committee Dera Khetran.

Additional initiatives include the immediate launch of the Rakhni Model Bazaar, development of a housing scheme and establishment of a press club to support civic participation and information access. These measures aim to formalise urban management, improve service delivery and introduce organised systems for land use, sanitation, markets and housing.

Officials said the Model Bazaar and housing scheme are expected to stimulate local commerce, reduce informal settlements and encourage planned urban expansion. Improved municipal oversight is also expected to enhance revenue generation and maintenance of public facilities.

The chief minister noted that the establishment of a divisional headquarters would bring government departments closer to residents, reduce travel time for public services and strengthen administrative coordination. He described the move as a step towards balanced regional development and better integration of remote districts into the provincial governance structure.

Urban planners and development experts view the package as a foundation for structured growth in a historically underserved region, where the absence of basic municipal infrastructure has constrained investment and economic activity. Improved healthcare, education, water resources and market facilities are expected to raise living standards and support sustainable settlement patterns.

The public gathering was attended by tribal elders, community representatives and local political leaders, reflecting broad support for the development agenda aimed at transforming Koh e Suleman into a functional administrative and service centre for surrounding districts.