Balochistan abolishes religious affairs department, redistributes staff and assets

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has dissolved its religious affairs department and reassigned its employees, funds and assets to other parts of the provincial administration.

According to a notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department, the department has been abolished and the services of its 1,237 employees have been placed under the control of divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

Officials said the department’s properties, vehicles and office infrastructure have been transferred to the provincial revenue department. They added that Rs4 billion previously held by the department under Zakat funds had been moved to the Balochistan Endowment Fund.

The development comes days after the Balochistan Assembly approved the provincial budget for 2026-27, in which Rs1.71 billion had been allocated for religious affairs, according to previously reported budget details.