QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has declared ‘education emergency’ in the province and directed authorities concerned to take strict action against students found cheating in MA examinations. He visited some centres established by the University of Balochistan in government schools for the annual examinations.

According to sources, he found candidates shivering in chilly weather of Quetta. The chief minister was dumbfounded to see that examination halls had no heating arrangements and even lacked proper furniture.

Taking notice of pathetic conditions of the examination halls, he called the registrar and controller of examinations of the university and directed them to provide required facilities at the centres.

During Dr Malik’s sudden visit of examination centres in Special School and Railway Girls School, a large number of people were found ‘sending help’ to candidates sitting in the examination halls, despite ban on the presence of unconcerned people near examination centres under section 144 of CrPC. Not only this, but students were also found copying answers of examination questions with impunity and under the nose of supervisors.