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QUETTA: The Balochistan cabinet has approved several major measures aimed at improving security, governance, education and public services across the province. One of the key decisions was to declare the entire province a regular police area following the integration of the Levies Force into the police system. The decisions were taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed several matters linked to law and order, development, administrative reforms and public welfare. The cabinet also approved the third phase of the Chief Minister Scholarship Programme. Under the programme, 300 children of registered workers from Balochistan will receive admission to a quality boarding school in Islamabad. The initiative aims to provide better educational opportunities to children of workers and help them build stronger prospects for the future. The cabinet approved the appointment of Superintendent of Police Nabeel Ahmed as chief operating officer of the Balochistan Safe City Authority. It also approved the establishment of a Provincial Parole Board on the recommendation of the Home Department. A new police station was approved for Hub Marble City. The move is aimed at improving security in the growing industrial and commercial area. The cabinet also approved a Service Level Agreement for the Quetta Safe City Project. The project will support the expansion of modern surveillance systems and technology-based policing in the provincial capital. Several decisions were also taken to strengthen local government institutions. Union Council Mesi Zai and Union Council Mai Zai were upgraded to municipal committees. The cabinet also approved a new Municipal Committee in Gulistan. The measures are intended to improve administrative services and strengthen local governance. For improved planning of development schemes, the cabinet approved the Balochistan Planning Manual. The meeting also endorsed the Balochistan Child Protection Rules 2026. The rules are aimed at strengthening safeguards for children and improving their welfare across the province. The cabinet approved amendments to the Balochistan Cadet Colleges Act 2026. It also extended the contract of the prosecutor general for another two years. Another major decision involved approval of the Balochistan Hybrid Weighted Procurement Policy 2026. The policy is intended to improve transparency and efficiency in government procurement. The cabinet also approved a financing proposal for the Harnai-Sibi Road Project. Other decisions included approval of the Gwadar Development Authority Service Rules 2024 and the creation of a new tehsil and subdivision in Nasirabad district. Officials said the administrative changes would help improve public service delivery and make development planning more effective. The meeting began with prayers for security personnel and civilians who lost their lives in recent incidents. Cabinet members paid tribute to those who died and expressed sympathy with their families. Speaking at the meeting, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said his government was focused on improving law and order across Balochistan.

Pakistan has taken a significant step toward joining the global lithium supply chain after the discovery of high-grade lithium in Sindh’s Khairpur district, a development that could pave the way for the country’s first domestic lithium industry and strengthen its ambitions in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. The breakthrough comes as the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) signed a strategic agreement with the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) to develop technology capable of extracting lithium from geothermal brine on a commercial scale. The agreement follows the successful identification of high-quality lithium in water produced from a well in Khairpur, raising hopes that Pakistan could eventually reduce its dependence on imported battery materials while creating a new high-value industrial sector. Officials familiar with the project said the collaboration will focus on designing an efficient and commercially viable extraction process. If successful, the initiative could lay the foundation for a local lithium value chain, supporting industries involved in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage systems, and other high-tech applications. The discovery is also expected to attract interest from investors looking to capitalize on the rapidly growing global demand for lithium, a critical mineral used in rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and grid-scale energy storage systems. In another major development, authorities have expanded lithium exploration across Sindh. Plans are underway to investigate eight to ten additional wells in search of further lithium-rich geothermal brine deposits, increasing the likelihood of identifying commercially viable reserves. Energy experts believe Pakistan’s emerging lithium potential could diversify the country’s mineral resources, generate export opportunities, and create skilled employment if exploration results continue to be positive and commercial production becomes feasible. While further scientific studies and economic assessments are still required before large-scale production begins, the Khairpur discovery marks a milestone in Pakistan’s pursuit of critical minerals. Industry observers say sustained investment in research, technology, and infrastructure will be essential to transform the discovery into a competitive domestic lithium industry capable of supporting the country’s long-term energy transition and industrial growth.