Bugti Assures Investors of Full Security in Balochistan, Pledges Red-Tape-Free, One-Window Investment Regime

CM Highlights Vast Mineral and Energy Potential, Announces Dedicated Security Division for Mineral Corridor; Invites Domestic and Foreign Companies to Partner in Provincial Development

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has assured domestic and international investors of a secure, investor-friendly environment, pledging to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and introduce a fully facilitated one-window operation to unlock the province’s vast mineral and energy potential.

Addressing the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) on Thursday, Bugti said Balochistan was ready to welcome international and domestic companies as development partners, offering enormous opportunities in minerals, oil and gas. He emphasised that the provincial government was committed to ensuring investors' security, facilitating business operations and building long-term partnerships for the province's economic development.

Highlighting Balochistan's culture of hospitality and its people's welcoming attitude towards foreign investors, the CM cited the example of Barrick, recalling that when the company left Balochistan more than a decade ago, its camp remained vacant without even a security guard.

"However, when the company returned after 10 years, not a single T-shirt had been stolen and not even a cup of tea was missing," he said, describing the incident as a reflection of the character, hospitality and trustworthiness of the people of Balochistan.

"This is Balochistan," Bugti remarked, urging investors not to judge the province solely through the security-related perceptions often portrayed in the media.

He said the government's investment policy was centred on engaging local communities, winning their confidence and ensuring their participation in development projects. He stressed that sustainable investment could only be achieved through strong partnerships between investors, local communities and the government.

Acknowledging the importance of security for major investment projects, Bugti said the provincial government had established a dedicated security division for the Mineral Corridor to ensure the protection of investors, mining operations and related infrastructure across the province.

He expressed confidence in the country's security institutions, saying the provincial and federal governments, alongside security forces, were fully committed and capable of providing a secure environment for domestic and foreign investors.

However, he identified the gap between perceptions and ground realities as one of the major challenges facing Balochistan. "Perceptions always travel much faster than realities," he said, adding that the province was different from the image frequently presented on television screens.

Speaking about Balochistan's enormous natural resource potential, the chief minister highlighted the significance of the Reko Diq project, describing it as a major example of the province's capacity to attract large-scale international investment.

He also pointed to promising developments in Sarona, where significant oil and gas reserves are expected to emerge in the coming months. According to Bugti, the potential reserves in the area could exceed those of Sui, whose gas resources have supplied energy to Pakistan for more than seven decades.

The chief minister further revealed that the Balochistan government, with the support of the federal government, was planning to establish a fertiliser city in Sui to utilise the area's low-BTU gas resources.

Inviting investors to participate in the proposed initiative, he assured them that the government would provide comprehensive security arrangements, civic amenities and all necessary facilities to support investment and industrial activity.

Bugti reiterated that security remained the foremost requirement for investors and pledged full protection through coordinated efforts involving the provincial and federal governments, security forces and local communities.

In a significant announcement aimed at improving the investment climate, he said the provincial government would remove unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles and ensure that investors did not face cumbersome administrative procedures.

"There will be no red tape in Balochistan," he assured the forum participants. He said the provincial government had already introduced legislation for a one-window operation under the Mines and Minerals Act, bringing the provincial regulatory framework into alignment with the national framework.

The legislation, he added, had been passed by the Balochistan Assembly with political consensus and the support of all political parties represented in the house. Bugti said the government was determined to create an enabling environment for investment by strengthening institutional arrangements, facilitating business operations and developing mutually beneficial partnerships.

Reaffirming his invitation to the international business community, the chief minister urged domestic and foreign companies to explore Balochistan's untapped mineral and energy resources and work alongside the government to transform the province's economic potential into sustainable development and prosperity.