Staff Reporter:
LISTEN ARTICLE
QUETTA:
The Managing Director (MD), of Saindak Metal Limited (SML), Muhammad Raziq Sanjrani handed over a cheque of Rs. 2.5 billion to the Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Quddus Bizenjo on Friday. Under the Aghaz e Haqooq Balochistan package, the MD SML presented the cheque to the Chief Minister, an official handout issued said.
Balochistan minister for planning and development, Noor Muhammad Dumar, finance minister Zamarak Achakzai and principal secretary to the chief minister, Imran Gichki were also present on the occasion. This payment is proof of CM’s principled stance about the rights of Balochistan, the handout stated.
It may be mentioned here that the SML’s finance committee meeting was held as a result of the efforts of the chief minister, the handout concluded.
To
The Chairman
Saindak Balochistan, Rekodik
PPL [Pakistan Petroleum Limited]
Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Cc:
The Director
National Talent Hunt Program (NTHP)
IBA Sukkur
Sukkur, Sindh
Subject: Urgent Appeal for Fair Quota Allocation for Students from Balochistan in OGDCL-NTHP Scholarship
Respected Chairman and Director,
I am writing on behalf of many concerned students and citizens of Balochistan to express our deep disappointment and concern over the ongoing exclusion and underrepresentation of Balochistani students in the OGDCL-NTHP fully funded scholarship program, conducted in collaboration with IBA Sukkur. While these opportunities are publicly advertised as being open and inclusive for all provinces, the ground realities indicate otherwise—students from Balochistan continue to be neglected.
As you are aware, Balochistan is Pakistan’s richest province in terms of natural resources, contributing substantially to the national economy through natural gas, minerals, and other assets. Ironically, this resource-rich land is also the most deprived when it comes to education, employment, and development. Despite our contribution, our youth remain without access to quality education and career-building opportunities.
Let’s look at the broader picture:
Punjab, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir already enjoy higher literacy rates, a wide network of universities, and access to competitive educational platforms.
In contrast, Balochistan’s literacy rate is the lowest in Pakistan, and many areas still lack even basic schooling facilities, let alone access to coaching centers or universities.
Yet, when national scholarships are announced, students from already-developed provinces dominate the selections, while talented but underprivileged students from Balochistan are excluded—a grave injustice.
We respectfully demand the following immediate steps:
1. Clearly reserve and enforce a quota for Balochistan in the OGDCL-NTHP and similar national programs.
2. Ensure that students from Balochistan are not displaced by applicants from provinces with better resources and infrastructure.
3. Launch targeted outreach, awareness campaigns, and test centers across Balochistan, including remote districts.
4. Provide relaxation in selection criteria for Balochistan due to the systemic educational disadvantages the region faces.
We are not asking for favors—we are demanding our constitutional and moral right to equal opportunity. There are countless students in Balochistan eager to learn, to grow, and to contribute to the country, but their dreams are crushed by a lack of access and attention.
We urge both OGDCL and IBA Sukkur to take concrete and visible steps to ensure inclusivity, regional fairness, and true national unity in your future scholarship intakes. We hope you will fulfill your institutional responsibility toward equity and justice for all provinces, especially Balochistan.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Sincerely,
[Ghulam Rasool Bugti]
[Dera Bugti, Balochistan]
[grbugti7866@gmail.com]
[03133520273]