QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met with faculty heads and members of various universities, urging educators and media to play a stronger role in shaping society and bridging the gap between the state and youth.
Bugti said that in the past, strong editorial checks ensured accuracy in news reporting, but with the rise of electronic and social media, editorial oversight has weakened. “In the era of social media, the line between truth and falsehood has become increasingly thin,” he warned.
He argued that social media in Pakistan emerged without first building social values and institutional frameworks, which allowed false propaganda to mislead youth and distance them from the state. “Instead of truth, popular narratives are being promoted,” he said, stressing that teachers must guide students in the right direction through research and clarity.
Bugti called on academics to help narrow the gap between the state and the younger generation, emphasizing that grievances should never lead to armed resistance against the state. He reminded that during Pakistan’s creation, all ethnic groups—including Sindhis, Pashtuns, and Punjabis—made sacrifices, and that the country belongs to all.
The chief minister also highlighted reforms his government has introduced to improve governance in Balochistan. He said the province had recruited 16,000 contract teachers, reopening 3,200 closed schools, and for the first time, state-run health facilities had been introduced in several remote areas.
Also Read: PM Shehbaz hails forces for killing Indian-backed militants in Balochistan
Bugti pointed to the appointment of the first doctor in Mand and the first childbirth at Baktur Hospital as proof of improved services. “We are determined to provide facilities to ordinary Balochistanis, whether they face the bitter cold of winter or the scorching heat of summer,” he said.