QUETTA, March 11: A large number of children and their parents took out a rally on Sunday in support of a campaign for the enrolment of students in Balochistan’s Pakhtun areas.

The campaign launched by the Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation began on Feb 5 and ended on Sunday. During the campaign thousands of students were enrolled in schools. During the campaign, rallies and meetings were held in cities, towns and villages to create awareness about the importance of education and enrolment of children in schools.

Participants of the rally held here on Sunday carried placards and banners, highlighting benefits of education. They marched on various roads and raised slogans in favour of their demands.

Ahmed Jan of Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation, Usman Kakar of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Kabir Afghan and Malik Achakzai criticised the government for not giving enough attention to promotion of education in the province and said that provision of education was responsibility of the government.

Juvenile prisoners: A barracks equipped with educational and recreational facilities has been constructed in Quetta district prison for juvenile offenders to help turn them into productive members of society.

The facilities at the barracks, inaugurated by Balochistan Chief Secretary Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri on Saturday, have been provided by two NGOs -- the Sehar and Save the Children.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr Lehri said that such barracks would be set up in all major jails of the province to provide a good atmosphere to the juvenile prisoners.

“We want to make juvenile prisoners useful citizens of society after they complete their jail terms,” he said, adding that the provincial government would take all possible steps in this regard.

He lauded the efforts of the two non-governmental organisations.

He said other NGOs should also come forward to play their role in setting up such centres in jails.

The director of Sehar, Dr Abdul Wadood, enumerated salient features and facilities being provided in the barracks. He said children were learning English language, computer programming and other modern education facilities.

Inspector General of Prisons Noor Ahmed Pirkani and Baseer Dawi, Director of Save the Children, also spoke on the occasion.