QUETTA:
The Balochistan government on Tuesday said it was making progress in the field of education by bringing out-of-school children back into classrooms and reopening long-closed institutions.
Speaking at an event at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti along with senior officials shared the progress of the ongoing campaign. Education Minister Rahila Hamid Durrani and Secretary Lal Jan Jaffar were also present.
Officials said more than 3,700 previously closed schools have been made functional, with around 100,000 children enrolled, providing many with a new chance to access education.
The chief minister said that over 12,000 teachers were recruited on the basis of merit, underlining the government’s commitment to end the practice of job selling. He acknowledged past setbacks in the education sector, but said reforms are now gaining ground.
Despite this progress, significant challenges persist. Authorities noted that nearly 58% of children in the province are still out of school, with many now past the usual school attendance age.
Earth Day
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday said Earth Day reminds us of the fact that protection and survival of the natural environment is a shared responsibility of all of us, for which collective awareness and practical measures are essential.
In his message on the occasion of Earth Day, he said that Balochistan is a province rich in natural resources and diverse ecosystems, where there are important natural assets, from coastal mangroves to juniper and chilgoza forests in high mountain areas, which play a key role in climate protection, stability of water resources and public employment.
He, however, added that challenges such as climate change, prolonged drought and land degradation are affecting the province, requiring urgent and collective measures to address them.
The Chief Minister said that the Balochistan government is committed to promoting sustainable development, expanding forest areas and protecting biodiversity.
He urged the people to play their full role in planting trees, conserving water and protecting natural resources.
The CM expressed satisfaction that Alhamdulillah Balochistan is the first province of Pakistan to have established its own climate endowment fund and has also formulated a regular policy for its transparent and effective utilization, which is an important step towards addressing climate challenges.
He reiterated his determination to continue joint efforts to build a green, strong and sustainable Balochistan so that a safe and better environment can be provided for the coming generation.
