Bugti inaugurates research centre in Balochistan to counter extremism

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Thursday inaugurated the province’s first research facility set up to address growing extremism, with officials saying the institution will focus on studying the issue and supporting policy responses.

The inauguration ceremony of the Balochistan Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism was attended by Home Minister Mir Zia Langove, members of the provincial assembly, government officials and representatives of relevant institutions.

During the event, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat briefed participants on the centre’s objectives, the scope of its research and its planned future initiatives.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chief minister said the centre would identify challenges confronting young people through research and help create a solid basis for practical solutions. He said guiding youth towards constructive activities remained a key priority of the government and added that firm steps were needed to discourage violent thinking and extremist narratives.

Bugti also praised the efforts of Home Minister Langove and Shafqaat in bringing the initiative to fruition.

Visit to NUST Quetta campus

After inaugurating the centre, the chief minister visited the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Quetta campus, where he planted a sapling and chaired a meeting.

During a youth dialogue session with students, Bugti said he was pleased to speak with the country’s “future builders” at one of its leading educational institutions. He urged students to pursue practical research so they could better understand the difference between perception and reality.

The chief minister said perceptions often spread more quickly than facts, creating a visible gap between the situation on the ground and broader impressions about Balochistan. He said Pakistan’s history included a positive and inspiring account of Balochistan, but added that certain elements had distorted historical facts.

Bugti said he remained committed to dialogue at every level on facts concerning Balochistan and the state narrative. He said sustained engagement would help narrow the distance between the province’s youth and the state.

The session continued for more than four hours, during which the chief minister held an extensive exchange with students and pledged not to leave until he had answered every question raised by both male and female participants.

Digital dashboard launched

At a separate event, the chief minister also inaugurated a digital dashboard and publications of the Bureau of Statistics.

The Bureau of Statistics works under the planning and development department, and the digital dashboard is intended to support evidence-based policymaking in the province and modernise development planning.

The ceremony for the dashboard inauguration was attended by provincial ministers, members of the provincial assembly and senior officials of the provincial government.

The developments marked a day of multiple official engagements for the chief minister, combining the launch of a new research institution focused on countering violent extremism with an initiative aimed at improving data-driven governance in Balochistan.