With a smile on her face and hope of a bright future
sprouting in her eyes, Rani Marri, a sixth-grade student says she wants to
become an Army doctor when she grows up. Rani belongs to one of the most
conservative tribes of the Kohlu district in Balochistan and is studying in a
school run by the Pakistan Army. “My parents send me to this school so that I
can get good quality education as they want to see me become an Army doctor,”
Rani says.
Currently, the Pakistan Army
is sponsoring 4,198 Baloch students, providing boarding facilities to 707 of
these, under the Chamalang-Balochistan Education Programme (CBEP). The yearly
expenditure borne by the army in this regard stands at Rs83.38 million. Head of
the CBEP says the aim of the program is to provide quality education to the
underprivileged students of the Marri tribe. However during this year, a total
of 170 students from 17 other districts of Balochistan have also been included
in the programm.
Pakistan Army is making an
all-out effort to enhance the education level of youth in Balochistan. On the
orders of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, students across the
country have been accommodated in hostels managed by the army. Also, a hostel
for 100 students from the Marri and Luni tribes has been established in Quetta
Cantt, where free lodging and medical facilities along with a monthly stipend
of Rs500 is being provided to each student. A similar 40-student facility is
located in Zhob Cantt.
In order to train unskilled
people, the army has established various technical institutes in collaboration
with National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (Navtec) while the
Army School of Technician (AST) has been educating unemployed young people
since 2006. Overall, 1,013 Baloch students have been given technical training
through the Balochistan Institute of Technical Education (BITE) and AST while
Presently 511 Baloch students are enrolled at BITE.
The students are being trained mechanical
work, welding, home appliances, carpentry and computer studies in BITE. BITE is
providing free boarding, transportation, medical and stationary facilities
along with a monthly stipend of Rs 2000.
The Pakistan army is playing
a major role in Balochistan’s development and is giving support to the people
of the province in all major facets of life like health, education, job
opportunities, technical training and skilled development, poverty eradication,
maintaining law and order and striving hard for peace and prosperity.
