QUETTA In a major development initiative, the Balochistan government has unveiled a plan to provide modern business and digital skills training to 60,000 youth across the province, aiming to integrate them into the mainstream economy.
The decision was finalized during a high-level meeting on youth welfare chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti. The meeting, attended by Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, also resulted in a key decision to merge federal and provincial youth initiatives under a single, coordinated strategy.
Describing the youth as the nation’s “valuable asset,” CM Bugti stated that their development is the government’s top priority. “The youth of Balochistan are talented; they have only been facing a lack of opportunities,” he remarked, announcing the launch of an Enterprise Development Program in seven districts.
To ensure effective implementation, the government will establish youth facilitation and special support centers at the tehsil level. These hubs will provide guidance and inform young people about initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Interest-Free Loan Program. This comprehensive strategy represents a significant step toward harnessing the potential of Balochistan’s younger generation and driving provincial economic growth.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti inaugurated the Balochistan first-ever School Transport Program, announcing a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children as a result of ongoing reforms.
The launch ceremony at Government Girls College Jinnah Town marked a major milestone in the government’s efforts to boost student enrollment and accessibility. CM Bugti personally handed over keys of the newly procured yellow school buses to the heads of various institutions.
“We promised the public that no highway in Balochistan would be closed in the name of protest, and today, that promise has been fulfilled. Now, we promise a merit-based system where every deserving individual receives their due,” the Chief Minister stated, describing the transport initiative as a dream realized particularly for female education.
The Chief Minister outlined impressive achievements from the education reforms, including the merit-based hiring of 14,000 teachers, reactivation of 3,200 previously non-functional schools, and enrollment of 94,000 new students. He noted a remarkable 60% increase in college attendance and revealed that 32,000 students are enrolled in 600 community schools.
With an annual budget of Rs 79 million allocated for the transport program, CM Bugti announced plans to introduce a Public-Private Partnership model in education, replicating its successful application in healthcare. He expressed confidence that all remaining closed schools would
