QUETTA: Balochistan Gov­e­rnor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail has revealed that more than 100 sch­olars have left the province due to restrictions on the permanent appointment of professors and PhD scholars, warning that the brain drain could undermine the quality of higher education and research in public-sector universities.

He expressed these concerns while chairing the third Senate meeting of the Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Khuzdar.

The governor stressed the need for a comprehensive and attract­ive strategy to retain existing PhD scholars and senior professors while attracting new academics and researchers to public-sector universities across the province.

He said effective measures were urgently required to prevent the loss of experienced faculty members and strengthen academic and research capabilities. Retaining qualified scholars, he added, was essential for improving university performance and equipping students with modern knowledge and research skills.

Notes more than 100 scholars have already left Balochistan

While appreciating the efforts of Vice Chancellor Prof Maqsood Ahmed and his team, Mr Mandokhail observed that much remained to be done to improve the higher education sector.

He also emphasised that the establishment of new universities and campuses should be based on local needs and ground realities rather than individual preferences. He called for a review of existing campuses to determine whether they should be retained, merged or closed through informed policy decisions.

Pointing out an imbalance in faculty distribution, the governor said some modern academic disciplines faced a serious shortage of senior faculty members, while certain traditional departments had more staff than required in relation to student enrolment. He called for better human resource planning and balanced faculty distribution.

He said improving higher education required effective policymaking, prudent use of available resources and continuous improvement in academic and research standards.

The meeting was attended by Justice Najamuddin Mengal of Balochistan High Court, Opposition Leader Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani and others.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026