Balochistan Point Voice of Nation
By Safiullah Shahwani
QUETTA: Administrators of 23 private schools called on Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, during his visit to Panjgur and apprised him about the details of the closure of the schools.
Earlier, Chief Minister Balochistan reached Panjgur district Sunday Morning through a special flight on two days visit. He was accompanied by interim President National Party Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani, IG Police Balochistan Muhammad Amlish, Secretary Education Ghulam Ali Baloch, Secretary Communication and Works Ali Ahmed and Principle Secretary of Chief minister Muhammad Naseem Lehri.
The school administrators told CM that during last few months, they have been receiving threatening messages to close down schools, adding that several firing incidents have also taken place outside the school premises to spread fear and panic. They said that a school van was also ablaze due to which the parents stopped sending their children to the schools.
Dr. Malik was also briefed that despite the assurance provided by the government for provision of ample security, the parents were reluctant to send their children to the schools lately. “Of late, the parents have decided to send their children to schools and private schools have decided unanimously to reopen,” they added.
Chief Minister hailed the decision of the parents and expressed confidence that teachers would fill the gap by teaching extra hours to compensate for the four months of school’s closure.
Chief Minister also praised the role of the private schools for the uplift of the education and said that the position holder students among these schools would be awarded with prize and cash.
Chief Minister assured the fullest support of the government to the private schools.
Separately, addressing to a briefing regarding the development works in Panjgur, Chief Minister said that government has kicked off the process of development works in the province and all the concerned officers and heads of the institutions are directed to ensure the use of standard material, adding that wherever the use of substandard material was reported, the concerned official would be dealt with in accordance with the book.
He said that no embezzlement and corruption would be tolerated in the use of allocated funds and he stressed upon all stakeholders to make sure right use of the funds for durable development.
He said that the current coalition government was making sincere efforts to rise up to the expectations of the masses.
Chief Minister also expressed his government’s strongest resolve to ensure comfortable facilities of transportation and communication to the masses and added that all the main highways of the districts would be constructed to connect them easily. He said that the main highways which include N-85, Surab to Hoshab, Kalat, Chaman and Quetta were incomplete since last one decade and took up the issue with the concerned federal departments, adding that through negotiation and talks, work has been initiated on all the roads with considerable speed.
During his visit, Chief Minister was also apprised that the level of various crimes has scaled down significantly in the district. Chief Minister stressed upon Police and Levis to take action against criminal elements without any fear so that the province could be set on the path of development.
Chief Minister was also briefed about the performance of the cadet college Panjgur and the issues therein. Chief Minister assured that the shortcomings in the cadet colleges would soon be met.
Published in The Balochistan Point on August 3, 2014.
