Felicitating performance: VCs say Balochistan has changed for the better

Reception organised in honour of varsity chiefs, high achievers

LAHORE: “We are proud of talented students from Balochistan,” Population Welfare Minister Zakia Shahnawaz said on Wednesday.

Shahnawaz made the remarks while speaking at a reception hosted in honour of a delegation of vice chancellors and high achievers from Balochistan. She said it was incumbent on them to do their best and strive for national development.

Education Minister Rana Mashhood said the people of the Punjab had always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Balochistan. He said the Punjab was ready to assist Balochistan through all means possible to revamp the province’s education sector.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran said there was an abundance of human and natural resources in Balochistan. He said the nation had failed to benefit from this as promoting education had not been a priority of its rulers. Of late, Kamran said, the situation had however taken a turn for the better. The PU vice chancellor said the people should strive to make Zarb-i-Azb a success to eradicate terrorism.

Balochistan University Vice Chancellor Javed Iqbal thanked Kamran for providing free education, lodging and scholarships to Baloch students. He said Balochistan had grappled with serious crises over the last decades. Iqbal said it had been impossible to play the national anthem and hoist the national flag at the Balochistan University campus till a few years ago.

He said a remarkable turnaround had been witnessed in this regard. Khan said Balochistan had changed for the better due to the initiatives of the military and the provincial government. He said every function at the varsity now commenced with the playing of the national anthem and every office featured a portrait of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Iqbal said the varsity was grateful to the Southern Command commander and the Balochistan chief minister for this. He said Baloch students had received a great deal of love from the Punjab.

Publisher Mujibur Rehman Shami said Balochistan had surely changed for the better. He said Pakistan was inconceivable without Balochistan. He also praised the initiatives taken by the Punjab University. Shami said Pakistan could no longer afford a political turmoil. He said stability was the need of the hour.

Vice chancellors of various public and private universities, a large number of journalists, defence experts, academics and noted figures from all walks of life were present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2016.