Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar, serving as Acting Chairman Senate, undertook a series of political and community engagements in Quetta and issued a message on World Mental Health Day. His activities focused on Balochistan’s security and development, cooperation among political stakeholders, support for bereaved families and greater awareness of mental health. Across these engagements, he emphasised public welfare, collective responsibility and the importance of ensuring that progress benefits ordinary citizens.
During his meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti in Quetta on October 6, 2026, Nasar discussed the country’s overall political and economic situation, with particular attention to the challenges facing Balochistan. The discussion covered security, law and order, economic development, public relief and the implementation of development projects. Both sides also reviewed provincial government measures aimed at improving security, accelerating development initiatives and promoting prosperity across the province.
Nasar described Balochistan as an important province whose development and socioeconomic advancement remained among the government’s key priorities. He said its people were talented, hardworking and professionally capable, while its abundant natural resources and mineral wealth offered considerable opportunities for economic growth. He stressed that these resources should be utilised effectively, transparently and sustainably to improve living standards and create opportunities for local people.
He particularly emphasised the participation of local communities in development. Residents, he said, must become active partners in the process so that the benefits of Balochistan’s resources reach its people. His remarks highlighted the need to connect economic planning with public welfare, basic services and employment opportunities, ensuring that development addresses the concerns of communities throughout the province.
On security, Nasar said the government, in coordination with the military leadership, was taking measures to improve conditions in Balochistan. He described peace and stability as fundamental requirements for development and prosperity. Expressing confidence in efforts to eliminate terrorism, he said improved security would help the province achieve greater economic opportunities and sustained progress.
The Acting Chairman Senate also highlighted the potential of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar to emerge as major economic hubs. He said these initiatives could benefit Balochistan and the entire country. Calling for cooperation beyond political affiliations, he urged the federal and provincial governments, political leadership and relevant institutions to work together to resolve public problems, improve services and accelerate development projects.
Alongside his official engagements, Nasar visited several bereaved families in Quetta, offering condolences and Fateha. Following his arrival from Islamabad on October 6, he visited the families of former Senator and Balochistan Awami Party leader Mir Naseebullah Bazai, senior journalist Abdul Sattar Kakar, Abdul Ghani, a cousin of Quetta Metropolitan Corporation Chief Engineer Haji Ishaq Mengal, and the deceased brother of journalist Zahir Khan Nasar.
Speaking with Bazai’s brothers, Nasar recalled the former senator’s advocacy for the rights of Balochistan’s people and said his services would always be remembered. During his meeting with Abdul Sattar Kakar’s son, he praised the journalist’s commitment to highlighting public problems and bringing them to the attention of those in power.
During further engagements in Quetta on Saturday, Nasar met delegations from different political parties and visited other families to express sympathy. He offered condolences to the family of senior journalist Haji Khalilur Rehman; provincial assembly member Haji Mir Ghulam Dastagir Badini on his father Haji Mir Jumma Khan Badini’s death; Haji Bostan on his grandson Hafiz Saad Ali Gujjar’s death; and Muhammad Aqeel Kashmiri and Muhammad Faheem Kashmiri on their sister’s passing. He praised the deceased for their services and prayed for the families’ patience.
In his October 10 message on World Mental Health Day, Nasar called for greater awareness, understanding and access to support. He said mental health deserved the same attention and care as physical health, stressing that psychological difficulties should neither be ignored nor treated as shameful. He encouraged open conversations within families, educational institutions, workplaces and communities.
Nasar urged people to seek professional assistance when needed and called for compassion towards those experiencing emotional distress. He said timely support could make a meaningful difference, while healthier minds contributed to stronger families and more resilient communities. His engagements collectively reflected an emphasis on peace, development and human welfare, linking Balochistan’s progress with national prosperity and the everyday needs of its people. He reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen economic stability and public welfare, while urging a culture of empathy and inclusion so that no individual has to face mental health challenges alone.
