QUETTA:
The Balochistan government said on Tuesday it was making progress in education by bringing out-of-school children back into classrooms and reopening long-closed institutions.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti spoke at an event at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat along with senior officials on 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 about 100,000 children enrolled – giving many a renewed chance at education.
The chief minister said over 12,000 teachers have been recruited on merit, underscoring the government’s commitment to end the practice of selling jobs. He acknowledged earlier setbacks in the education sector, but said reforms are now gaining traction.
Despite these gains, significant challenges remain. Officials noted that nearly 58% of children in the province remain out of school, many of them now beyond typical school age.
Earth Day
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said on Tuesday that Earth Day reminds us that the 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 mountainous areas, which play a key role in climate protection, water resource stability and public employment.
He said challenges such as climate change, prolonged drought and soil degradation are affecting the province, which require urgent and collective measures to address.
The Chief Minister stated that the Government of Balochistan 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 establish 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 the climate challenges.
He reiterated the resolve that joint efforts would continue to build a green, strong and sustainable Balochistan so that a safe and better environment could be delivered to the coming generation.
