Balochistan sees revival of 3,700 closed schools

The Balochistan government on Tuesday said it was making headway in 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 progress on the ongoing campaign. Education Minister Rahila Hamid Durrani and Secretary Lal Jan Jaffar were also in attendance. Officials said more than 3,700 previously closed schools have been made functional, with around 100,000 children enrolled—offering 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 ending the practice of selling jobs. He acknowledged past setbacks in the education sector but said reforms are now gaining traction. Despite these gains, significant challenges persist. Officials noted that nearly 58% of children in the province remain out of school, many of them now beyond the typical school-going age. Earth Day Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday said that Earth Day reminds us of the fact 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 that however, challenges such as climate change, prolonged drought and land degradation are affecting the province, which requires 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 the 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 has also formulated a regular policy for its transparent and effective use, which is a significant step towards addressing 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 provided to the coming generation.