CM Bugti inaugurates Balochistan’s first counter-narrative research center

Apr 24, 2026 | Terrorism, Public Policy

QUETTA (April 24, 2026) — Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has inaugurated the province’s first-ever research facility dedicated to countering violent extremism and radicalization. The Balochistan Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), unveiled on Thursday, is designed to serve as a hub for academic research and strategic policy-making to dismantle extremist narratives.

During the launch, CM Bugti emphasized that engaging the youth through facts and positive dialogue is the state’s top priority. He noted that a significant gap exists between “perception and reality” regarding the province’s security landscape, often fueled by distorted historical facts. By fostering a research-based state narrative, the government aims to bridge the trust deficit between the youth and the state, ensuring that the next generation is steered toward constructive socio-economic development.

Highlights

  •  First dedicated research center in Balochistan to diagnose and counter the root causes of extremism.
  •  CM Bugti held a landmark four-hour dialogue with NUST students to address questions on provincial reality vs. external perceptions.
  • Launched a Bureau of Statistics digital dashboard integrating consolidated data from 17 different sectors.
  • The dashboard is designed to modernize development planning and ensure transparency in government project tracking.
  • During the briefing, the CM personally offered a job to a candidate found in the database who had applied to 45 different departments without success.

Beyond the CVE center, the Chief Minister’s focus on “evidence-based policymaking” was further solidified with the launch of the Planning and Development Department’s new digital dashboard. This system will allow the administration to track growth trends across various sectors dating back to 2010. By integrating comprehensive data on infrastructure, health, and government vacancies, the provincial government seeks to move away from anecdotal governance toward a transparent, merit-oriented system.

CM Bugti reiterated that continuous dialogue at every level is essential to countering the “distorted facts” spread by certain elements. He vowed that the provincial government would continue to utilize modern technology to ensure that public service delivery is grounded in ground realities rather than impressions.

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