Education and dialogue, not the gun, will solve Balochistan’s problems: Bugti

LAHORE: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that loyalty to Pakistan is unconditional. He said the solution to Balochistan’s problems lies in Education, dialogue, political process and democratic attitudes, not in armed struggle.

No deprivation or political difference can be used to justify violence.

Addressing the convocation of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) Lahore, the chief minister said the province currently faces three major challenges. These are the narrative that justifies violence, armed Terrorism, and the shaping of young minds through Social Media.

He said the people of Balochistan are equal citizens of Pakistan. He said it is necessary to understand the province’s real problems, its sense of deprivation and its development needs. However, he said, it is not right to use these problems as a basis to support or justify separatist violence.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti said some circles link issues such as backwardness and deprivation with armed violence and present a narrative that damages the real facts. He said observers and analysts who talk about the situation in Balochistan should speak on the basis of facts and avoid making violence acceptable.

Armed violence and Social Media

The chief minister said armed violence is a major problem facing the province, where terrorists target civilians and also damage infrastructure. He said Terrorism not only costs human lives but also harms development, economic activity, Education and the prospects of a better future for the people.

He made it clear that difference of opinion and political demands are the right of every citizen. But imposing one’s views on others at gunpoint is not acceptable, he said.

Speaking about Social Media, he said the younger generation faces misleading information and negative propaganda. He said it is necessary to make young people aware that they should test every piece of news and every claim through research and facts. He said the role of universities is not only to award degrees but also to produce informed, responsible citizens who think critically.

Mir Sarfraz Bugti praised UMT Lahore’s initiative to provide Scholarships to students from Balochistan. He said the Punjab government’s provision of Rs1 billion a year for the promotion of Education in Balochistan is an example of inter-provincial cooperation and national unity.

The chief minister said the Balochistan government is also trying to provide Education to more than 80 per cent of its students on 80 per cent Scholarships, so that financial difficulties do not stand in the way of any talented young person’s higher Education.

He said the youth of Balochistan are rich in talent. He said providing them with quality Education, modern skills and equal opportunities for progress is among the government’s priorities. Investing in Education is in fact investing in the future of the province and the country, he said.

Addressing the convocation, he congratulated the graduating students, their parents and teachers. He said graduation is the start of a new journey in practical life. He urged young people to make hard work, honesty and perseverance their way of life and to use their abilities in the service of the country and the nation.