‘Non-functioning schools to be reopened’

Minister assures all issues, including water shortage, will be resolved on priority

QUETTA: Balochistan Minister for Public Health and Engineering Noor Muhammad Dummar said everyone has to play their part in the development of education sector of the province.

"It is only through promoting quality education that we can take the nation forward," said  Dummar during his visit to Allied Public School on the invitation of Sardarzada Osama Tareen, Raz Mohammad Dummar, Usman Shah and Najam Khan.

The provincial minister visited various areas of the school and was informed about the problems jeopardising the institute.

The minister assured that all issues, including water shortage, will be resolved on priority.

"In Balochistan, we are making effective decisions regarding education. We are ensuring that every child is participating in extracurricular activities at school. We will also activate non-functioning educational institutions,” Dummar added.

He said the government would not tolerate any ‘ghost teachers’.

“The role of public schools as well as private educational institutions in relation to promotion of quality education cannot be ignored,” he continued. “The government is providing children with a better [learning] environment.”

Meanwhile, a souvenir was presented to the provincial minister who also attended the dinner hosted in his honour.

Earlier during the week, Dummar inaugurated a dam and Karez in Sanjavi and said the province has been facing an acute shortage of water.

“Out of all the provinces, Balochistan is facing the bleakest prospects when it comes to water security,” he said.

Dummar added that Balochistan is the most neglected and backward province of the country and has been hit by severe water crisis since 2010. The importance of water, according to him, can be ascertained from the fact that it has been regarded as a potential source of national power for a sovereign nation.

He affirmed that according to some estimates, the province will face chronic water shortages in the coming years if the government continues to ignore the issue.

Dummar  said that the Municipal Committee proposal has been approved, and very soon the construction of playground project will also be started.

Dummar vowed that serving people of his constituency is an obligation and he will continue efforts to solve their problems.

“I do not favour anybody but the people, they have elected me so I have to repay them,” he said.

“My doors are always open to solve the problems of the poor,”Dummar maintained, adding that there were problems with the supply of drinking water due to load shedding.

“Two large generators have been provided to PHE Loralai to solve these issues and to ensure improved supply,” Dummar said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2019.