QUETA:
The Balochistan government said on Tuesday it was making progress on education by bringing out-of-school children back to classrooms and reopening long-closed institutions.
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 also attended.
Officials said more than 3,700 previously closed schools have returned to operation, with around 100,000 children enrolled, offering many a new opportunity to receive an education.
The prime minister said more than 12,000 teachers have been hired on merit, underscoring the government’s commitment to ending the practice of selling jobs. He acknowledged past setbacks in the education sector, but said reforms are now gaining ground.
Despite these advances, significant challenges remain. Officials noted that nearly 58 per cent of the province’s children remain out of school, and many of them are past the typical school attendance age.
Earth Day
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday said that 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 indispensable.
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 said however, challenges such as climate change, prolonged drought and land degradation are affecting the province, requiring urgent and collective measures to address.
The Chief Minister stated that the Balochistan government is committed to promoting sustainable development, expanding forest areas and protecting biodiversity.
He urged people to play a 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 also formulated a regular policy for its transparent and effective use, which is an important step towards addressing climate challenges.
He reiterated the determination that joint efforts will continue to build a green, strong and sustainable Balochistan so that a better and safe environment can be provided to the next generation.
