ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has assured the students of Balochistan of the Ministry of Planning’s full support and commitment in the speediest implementation of projects in education and development sectors for Balochistan province which remained neglected in the past.
“Our top priority is to facilitate the students of Balochistan by giving them more opportunities in the field of education by offering more scholarships,” he said while speaking at an Engagement Session with students of Balochistan at the Ministry.
The students from various districts of Balochistan were invited by the minister in order to listen their issues and for their earlier redressal.
The Acting Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Shahista Suhail was also present at the occasion.
During the long participatory session that lasted over three hours, the students from various universities in Balochistan exchanged their views on the level of education and issues related to their aims for high-standard learning.
The minister appreciated their views and assured his full support despite the tough financial situation in the Country.
“Despite the financial crunch in the Country, we have increased the HEC’s budget to 68% which shows the determination of the government to raise the standard of education in the Country,” the minister said.
Ahsan Iqbal further added that for the first time in the history of Pakistan the government has started a project to uplift the 20 poorest districts of the Country and Rs 20 billion has been earmarked for this purpose.
We are conducting surveys to identify priority interventions in the poor districts that have not fared well in sectors like education, health and livelihood, he added.
The Balochistan province has been the top priority of this government while chalking out and executing of development projects.
Similarly, the minister also said the scope of BISP will be extended to additional 500,000 households for Balochistan to uplift the standard of living of the poor in the Province.
The minister said that the incumbent government is resolved to address the challenges faced by the province, and in this respect, the government has allocated Rs 112 billion in the Budget 2022-23 for Balochistan.
The minister remarked that the youth of Balochistan should focus on education as it is the only vehicle of progress and development adding that the youth of Balochistan by equipping themselves with education can counter the conspiracies hatched to disrupt the peace in the province.
Ahsan Iqbal also stressed the students to remain vigilant and keep an eye on suspicious activities of anti-state elements, who want to bring the proxy war in Balochistan.
We have seen the consequences of the proxy war in Afghanistan. It is the responsibility of the youth to alert their fellow students from being exploited by nefarious propaganda of anti-state actors, who wish to disrupt the peace of Balochistan for their ulterior motives, he added.
