QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met UNICEF Country Representative in Pakistan, Pernille Ironside, to discuss polio eradication, routine immunization, education, and health initiatives in the province.
Bugti said effective coordination would strengthen public welfare initiatives and praised UNICEF for offering technical support and staff training to build the capacity of the provincial Health Department.
He emphasized that Balochistan values international partners’ support in health and education projects. He noted that the government has intensified efforts to eradicate polio and expand immunization campaigns while introducing large-scale reforms in both sectors.
The Chief Minister said the province has allocated exceptional resources for primary health care and continues contract-based hiring to address workforce shortages.
He reported that the government reopened 3,200 closed schools in the past year and plans to establish 1,200 new community schools this year. He pledged that no school would remain closed by the end of the year.
Bugti added that authorities are monitoring potential flood risks in districts bordering Sindh and are finalizing preventive measures in those areas.
He also highlighted ongoing steps to empower women, including the creation of Balochistan’s first Women Economic Empowerment Endowment Fund.
UNICEF’s Ironside reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to support Balochistan in health and education, stressing that children’s welfare remains a top priority.
