I WANT to draw the attention of the Federal government towards an issue that has caused much panic in the ranks of 5,000 talented and highly qualified youth of Balochistan.

In July 2010, these young men and women, who have bachelor’s and master’s, were recruited through the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package as teachers in BPS-14 and 16 on contract basis for the uplift of education standards in the province. Since their appointment, these teachers have rendered invaluable services in spreading the light of education. The incumbents have filled the vacuum of the well-qualified instructors. The fresh blood in the education sector of Balochistan is leaving no stone unturned for the overhauling of education and literacy.

Despite their honest and unflinching struggle in their respective field, they have become an object of despise and mockery not only for their family members but also for themselves because both the federal and provincial government have let them down both morally and financially.

They are paid as low as rupees 15,000 per month since 2010, although revised pay scale and 15 per cent rise in the salary were admissible to them but who cares. These educationists have been denied all the rights along with perks and privileges by the federal and provincial governments deliberately.

Though the federal government had already announced a scheme to regularise all teachers but the matter is in abeyance. All these moral and financial burdens have shattered the hopes of these teachers and they are finding it hard to concentrate on their so-called job which neither gives them social nor financial security.

I request the newly-elected prime minister and the chief minister of Balochistan to take some concrete steps towards the regularisation of Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package teachers as promised earlier and instruct the department concerned to pay their arrears on the revised pay scale and raise 15 per cent and 20 per cent for the year 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Such measures will not only be helpful in releasing the stress of Baloch teachers but also pave the path towards a more liberal, brighter and educated Pakistan.

KHAYAL MUHAMMAD Quetta