QUETTA: Opposition members staged a walkout from the post-budget debate session of the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday to protest the removal of the Jhalawan Medical College Khuzdar project from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the budget for financial year 2025-26.

In his speech, opposition leader Younis Aziz Zehri of the JUI-F demanded that the college project be restored.

Raising the medical college issue in the house again, he pointed out that the Jhalawan Medical College Khuzdar project was excluded from the PSDP, saying that he had already raised this issue in the previous session.

Mr Zehri pointed out that significant work had already been completed on the college project and questioned why it was now being dropped. He and other opposition members subsequently staged a walkout in protest.

Mr Zehri urged the chief minister to formally assure the assembly of restoring the project.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, while responding on the occasion, said that during budget preparation, a review of ongoing projects was conducted under a specific formula, and some projects were deferred.

He invited the opposition leader to discuss the matter further in his chamber and added that he would make a responsible statement after re-evaluating the issue.

CM Bugti reiterated that the importance of the project is undisputed and assured the government would not neglect any public welfare initiative. He acknowledged the opposition’s right to protest and emphasised that the people of Khuzdar would not be wronged.

Former CM and National Party leader Dr Abdul Malik Baloch warned that removing the project from the budget would have serious consequences.

Panel of Chairmen member Ali Madad Jattak sent treasury members to negotiate with the opposition members, who later ended their boycott and rejoined the session. Mr Jattak welcomed their return to the house.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2025