QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that education is the only means of getting rid of poverty and backwardness.

“Education is our weapon and we should all play our role for the promotion of education in Balochistan after forgetting our personal differences,” he said.

He was addressing a prize-distribution ceremony at the Dar-i-Arqam school here on Saturday.

Dr Baloch said that “we have no other option except to get education”.

“Throughout my political career I have felt that poverty and illiteracy are our main enemies and we need to get united to defeat them,” he added.

Lauding the role of the Dar-i-Arqam school for promoting education in the province, he said that those who were busy in promoting education deserved utmost appreciation.

“We took serious steps for promotion of education during the past two and half years and discouraged cheating in exams and absenteeism in educational institutions,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to the parents to look after their children at home so that they could grow up with good manners.

He said the coalition government had introduced the National Testing Service (NTS) in the province after which deserving and hardworking candidates were appointed in various departments. Many of those who had never thought of getting jobs without influence were accommodated in different government departments, Dr Baloch said.

“We also restructured the Balochistan Public Service Commission due to which capable and deserving candidates are being appointed,” he said.

He said there should be justice in society and people should get their rights. “During my tenure I strived hard to serve the masses and will continue to serve them in future also,” he added.

Dr Baloch said his coalition government introduced reforms in education, health and police and the people of Balochistan were the protectors of these reforms.

“We are on the top of the list in poverty. Therefore, we need to strive hard in getting education, and the investors of Balochistan should invest in education” he added.

He said that God had gifted Balochistan with mineral resources and a coast, and the route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor also passed through Balochistan. “Therefore, we should set aside all our differences and work for the promotion of education.”

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2015