QUETTA, Oct 31 (APP): Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said that our loyalty to Pakistan is unconditional, In the name of highlighting the case of Balochistan and the real problems of the people here, confusion and misleading narratives are being spread by some quarters.
He said Balochistan is currently facing three major challenges, including a narrative that justifies violence, armed terrorism and the mind-shattering of the youth through social media, terrorists are destroying the infrastructure of Balochistan and killing innocent Pakistanis.
He mentioned that no deprivation or political difference could be justified for violence, the solution to Balochistan’s problems is not guns but education, dialogue, political process and democratic attitudes.
He expressed these views while addressing the convocation of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Lahore. Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that our loyalty to Pakistan is unconditional and the people of Balochistan are also equal citizens of this country, it is important to understand the real problems, sense of deprivation and development needs of the province, however, it is not right to support or justify separatist violence on the basis of these problems.
Some quarters sometimes link backwardness, sometimes deprivation and sometimes other problems with armed violence to create a narrative that obscures the facts, he said.
He said that it is the responsibility of observers and analysts discussing the situation in Balochistan to speak based on facts and not try to make violence acceptable in any way.
The CM said that the second major challenge facing Balochistan is armed violence, where terrorists are targeting people in the form of armed groups, killing innocent citizens and destroying the infrastructure of the province. Terrorism is not only the loss of human lives but also an obstacle in the path of development, economic activities, education and a better future for the people of Balochistan. He said that every citizen has the right to dissent and political demands, but imposing one’s thoughts on others through guns is in no way acceptable, he noted.
The Chief Minister, while pointing out the third challenge, said that through social media, especially the younger generation, is being subjected to misleading information and negative propaganda, the youth must be made aware that they should test every news, claim and narrative on the basis of research and facts.
He maintained that the role of universities and educational institutions is not only to provide degrees but also to prepare conscious, responsible and critical-thinking citizens who could play a positive role in the society. Mir Sarfraz Bugti, while appreciating the scholarships provided to the students of Balochistan by the University of Management and Technology, said that he was happy to know that UMT has provided higher education opportunities to the youth of Balochistan.
The Punjab government’s provision of Rs 1 billion annually for the promotion of education in Balochistan is a valuable example of inter-provincial cooperation and national solidarity. Such measures not only provide opportunities for the students of Balochistan to move forward but also strengthen trust and mutual relations between the provinces.
He said that the Balochistan government is trying to provide education to more than 80 percent of its students on 80 percent scholarship so that lack of financial resources does not become an obstacle in the pursuit of higher education of any talented youth. Our effort is to provide quality education, modern skills and equal opportunities for development to the youth of Balochistan. Investing in the education of the youth is in fact an investment in the bright future of Balochistan and Pakistan.
The Chief Minister said that the youth of Balochistan are talented and by providing them with appropriate opportunities, guidance and educational facilities, they can be given an effective role in the stream of national development. Education is the only path that keeps the youth away from extremism, violence and misleading ideologies and attracts them towards knowledge, awareness and positive activities.
We need to show our young generation the path of hope, hard work and progress instead of despair and negative propaganda. Congratulating the graduating students, their parents and teachers at the convocation, the Chief Minister of Balochistan said that graduation is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a new and important phase of practical life.
Today, students are stepping into a new world where continuous hard work, honesty and consistency are of fundamental
importance for success. He urged the graduating youth to hone their skills, set high goals and use their education and skills to serve the country and the nation.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti thanked the university administration, faculty and administrators and said that it was an honor for him to participate in the convocation. He expressed his best wishes for a bright future for all the graduating students and said that by making hard work and honesty their motto, the youth could achieve success in every field of life.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
