Gen Naseer Janjua about Militancy and Terrorism in #Balochistan and Foreign Hand behind #BLA and #BLF

Punjab to fund Balochistan projects

LAHORE - On the special directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab government will provide cooperation for construction of two parks and designing and renovation of an important road for the people of Balochistan.

During the visit of Balochistan Chief Minister, Dr Abdul Maalik to Lahore, it was decided that Punjab government will assist Balochistan government in designing and renovation of two parks and airport road in Quetta. The Punjab chief minister Punjab has ordered immediate implementation of the decision regarding designing and renovation of airport road and construction of two parks in Quetta. Punjab government will provide all funds in this regard and it would be a gift for the people of Quetta.

Meanwhile, former federal minister Ejazul Haq met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday. Political situation of the country and national issues were discussed in the meeting, according to an official handout, Meanwhile, Assembly members of various districts called on the Punjab chief minister and informed him about the pace of ongoing development projects in their respective areas.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that service to the people was the pivot of politics of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and it is serving the people of Punjab with honesty and commitment for the last five and a half years. He said that mega projects worth billions of rupees had been executed across the province. He said Punjab was rich in mineral resources which could be utilised for achieving the goal of self-sufficiency.  He said that a solid strategy has been adopted for fully benefiting from mineral wealth in the province. He said that a number of welfare programmes were continuing successfully for bringing the deprived segments of the society into national mainstream.  Those who met the Chief Minister included Syed Muhammad Asghar Shah, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Muhammad Afzal Khokhar and Rais Mehbob Ahmad.

Balochistan Militancy Devastates Education System

The provincial government, responding to public demands for stepped-up security, vows to improve the situation.

QUETTA – Nazeer Ahmed Bangulzai was a typical student in the Awaran area of Balochistan Province, but militant threats have reached the point that they are blocking him from an education.

"My father is not letting me to go to school," the 10th-class student said. "He told me that armed men would kill me if they found me going to school." This situation has repeated itself throughout the province, blocking thousands of young students from getting an education. And that's casting a shadow on the future for coming generations.

"Our future is moving ahead in darkness; someone should come forward to assist us in this calamitous situation so that we can continue our education without any fear," Nazeer said. As the situation reaches the crisis point, Balochistan residents are calling for the provincial government to step up efforts to keep the school system functioning.

"The role of government is, primarily, in protecting educational institutions," Mohammad Ali, a schoolteacher in Noshki, told Central Asia Online. "If they [the schools] are destroyed by the militants, the government must ensure that these schools are rebuilt and the process of education continues without any further disruption."

Dropout rates pose a major challenge

Militant attacks on schools and on educators have forced roughly 70,000 children to leave school this year, according to officials. The terrorism has included barrages of gunfire at school buses. Roughly 1.3m children throughout the province aren't going to school, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik said.

"A high dropout rate and poor access of children to school have emerged as the biggest challenges in the province," he said. Observers accuse the militancy of being the chief culprit behind Balochistan's nation-leading illiteracy rate, A.N. Sabir, president of the Government Teachers Association Quetta, told Central Asia Online.

"The militants' biased attitude is shutting the doors of education ... and they want to keep the masses in the darkness of ignorance," Shantul Gurginari, a senior educator and former professor of history in Balochistan, said. "It is a great conspiracy against Balochistan that anti-peace elements want to smash the entire system of education in the province," Ali said. "These militant groups are trying to keep the Baloch nation backward and illiterate ... making their youth easily susceptible to militancy."

Putting children back in school

The harsh situation contradicts what the residents want, analysts say. "People want their children to be literate … but in reality there is no one to help them out," Khuzdar social worker Behram Rind told Central Asia Online. "In conflict areas, seeking an education might cost you your life."

The provincial government says it recognises the need to ensure safe access to schools and a safe learning environment. "We are taking all possible measures to maintain law and order and to restore the educational system in the militancy-hit areas," Malik said.

The government is reviewing education-related policies and has allocated Rs. 61.3 billion (US $62m) to fix the problems, he said. Reforms will include providing security for teachers, students and other stake-holders, Sabir said.

"It is the need of the hour to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism from education in Balochistan," he added.

FC important partner in socio-economic development of Balochistan

Frontier Corps Balochistan has made its presence felt in a positive way in the largest province of Pakistan by running schools and colleges, providing medical facilities to patients and coming to aid of earthquake affectees in Awaran. The FC is playing an important role in the promotion of education in Balochistan with an aim to win hearts and minds of the people.

According to Frontier Corps Balochistan sources, it has been running six colleges and 33 schools in the province, in which over 13,000 students were presently getting education, 1,409 of them studying freely. The number of students in FC run schools will be raised upto 15000 in near future.

Some 400 local teachers have also been provided jobs in FC schools with free boarding, lodging, medical and transportation facilities. While 14 students are sponsored by the force to study in renowned educational institutions. The FC has provided hostel facility for over 300 students at five different locations including Loralai, Muslim Bagh, Zhob, Khuzdar and Dera Bugti.

During the earthquake relief operations in Awaran last year, the FC was the first institution, which responded to the natural calamity. FC took up the challenge as an opportunity to earn good will of masses. A total of 1739 troops participated in earthquake relief activities. It provided 5892 ration bags, distributed 14 relief goods trucks, 600 cartons of medicines and 425 shelters. FC provided specialist medical facilities to the people in far-flung areas of the province. According to available data, from 2011 to 2013, the FC provided medical facilities to 89,284 patients in 212 free camps across Balochistan.

In the year 2011, FC held 72 free camps providing treatment to 28753 patients, in the year 2012, 89 camps were set up and 30045 patients were treated. In 2013, 51 camps were established where 30486 patients got treatment. In close coordination with Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Government of Balochistan, FC has imparted training to 1533 personnel of Police Prisons Staff as well as Levies and Balochistan Constabulary in 11 batches. FC provides training to law enforcement agencies on a regular basis. During the year 2012 and 2013, FC trained 1380 Levies personnel in seven batches. While in 2013 it trained 103 personnel of Police Prison Staff in three batches and in the same year, it trained 50 personnel of Balochistan Constabulary in a single batch.

FC’s anti narco operations have continued alongside other duties with considerable success. From the year, 2011 to 2013, FC recovered narcotics worth Rs.5268 million and arrested 50 criminals selling the illegal substances. The force recovered 84600 kilograms of heroin, morphine, hashish, opium and chemicals.

The force also recovered 176,335 kgs of ammunition and 48,518 tons of explosive material from criminals. In its efforts to check illegal human trafficking, the FC Balochistan arrested 16,033 persons, including 14,972 Afghanis, 862 Pakistanis, 154 Bengalis and 34 Iranians.

ایف سی بلوچستان کا امدادی کیمپ

Challenges and Triumphs for Building Balochistan

Sardars, nawabs continue To dominate #Balochistan. They had done nothing but brought Balochistan to this stage

Army ready to help bring peace in Balochistan: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Thursday that the Pakistan Army would provide maximum assistance in enhancing the capacity of Balochistan Police to ensure peace in the province. 

During his visit to Combat Training Area in Quetta Cantonment where specialised anti-terrorism training is being imparted to the personnel of Balochistan Police and Balochistan Constabulary, Gen Sharif said another three courses would be run by the Pakistan Army this year for police and Balochistan Constabulary. Southern Command Commander Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. According to ISPR, currently 200 individuals of police and Balochistan Constabulary are being imparted training by Pakistan Army’s Southern Command in Quetta. An eight-week-long course will conclude on February 7. The COAS appreciated the standard of training imparted by the team and enthusiasm displayed by the trainees. General Sharif expressed the hope that the trained persons would play an important role in combating the menace of terrorism in the province. 

Earlier in 2013, Pakistan Army provided 5,000 weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Balochistan Police besides imparting training to 200 policemen to enhance their capacity in anti-terrorism. The trained force now comprises Anti-Terrorist Force Balochistan, which has displayed good performance in the last few months after the training.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel Sharif visited Southern Command Headquarters in Quetta on Thursday. Southern Command Commander Lieutenant General Nasser Khan Janjua gave a detailed briefing to the two leaders on Balochistan security situation. The prime minister appreciated the role of security forces in helping bring normalcy in Balochistan and directed both political and military leadership to devise joint strategy to ensure peace in the province.

PM, army chief in Balochistan; joint anti-terror strategy sought

QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday urged the civil and military leadership to devise a joint strategy for ensuring durable peace in Balochistan.

He arrived in the provincial capital on a one-day visit and was accompanied by Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party leader Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo and Minister SAFRON Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

During his visit to Corps Headquarters at Quetta Cantonment, PM Sharif said security forces were playing commendable role for securing peace and tranquility in the province.

He called upon the military and civil leadership to adopt collective approach in this regard. The Prime Minister said that Federal Government was committed to resolving the issue of Balochistan and put it on the track to prosperity. He stressed the need to further accelerate development projects in the province to ensure relief for the masses.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai were also present on the occasion.

Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua gave detailed briefing to the premier on the overall law and order situation in Balochistan.

Earlier, the prime minister laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyrs memorial monument) to acknowledge the contribution of martyrs of Army, FC and police who sacrificed their lives to defend the country.

Balochistan Police to be reinforced

Meanwhile, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces will provide maximum assistance in enhancing the capacity of Balochistan Police to ensure peace in the province.

During his visit to Combat Training Area in Quetta Cantonment, where specialised anti-terrorism training is being imparted to personnel of Balochistan Police and Balochistan Constabulary, he said another three courses would be run this year.

The commander southern command and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

According to ISPR, currently, 200 individuals of police and Balochistan Constabulary are being imparted training by Pakistan Army's Southern Command in Quetta. The eight-week long course will conclude on February 7.

General Sharif expressed the hope that the trained persons will play an important role in combating the menace of terrorism in the province.

Earlier in 2013, Pakistan Army provided 5,000 weapons and 500,000 ammunition to Balochistan police besides imparting training to 200 police individuals to enhance their capacity in anti-terrorism.

Dr Malik Inaugurates Sport Complex In Quake-Hit Awaran

The Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik inaugurated a children’s park in the district and distributed cheques among those affected by the quake. He inaugurated the area’s Sports Week, organized by local administration and the army as well as a sports complex and announced       5 million rupees for the district’s sports committee.