QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch has said that adequate steps will be taken in the province, particularly to protect private schools in Panjgur that have received threats from some groups.

Talking to delegations and owners of private schools and education centres in Panjgur on Sunday, he said that providing protection to people was the responsibility of his government which would be fulfilled by taking all measures.

The chief minister, accompanied by National Party president Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Health Minister Rehmat Saleh Baloch, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani and IG Police Mohammad Amlish, arrived in Panjgur on a two-day visit early in the morning.

Three police stations to be set up in Panjgur

Malik Baloch said that three police stations would be set up in the Panjgur district and all facilities and resources would be provided to the district administration and law-enforcement agencies for maintaining law and order.

He said that maximum funds would be released for development projects in the Panjgur and other districts of Makran division.

A delegation of private schools led by Abdul Zahir Baloch informed the chief minister that they had been receiving threats for three months to close down their institutions. Several incidents of firing had taken place outside school premises to spread fear and panic, they said. Parents have stopped sending their children after a school van was set on fire.

They told the chief minister that despite assurances by the government, parents were reluctant to send their children to schools. However, they added, the situation had started improving recently as parents had decided to send their children to schools and owners had agreed to reopen their institutions.

The chief minister praised private schools for their role in spreading education and said position-holders would be awarded prize and cash.

Our correspondent adds from Gwadar: Addressing a briefing on uplift projects in Panjgur, the chief minister said the government had started the development process in the province and directed the departments concerned to use quality material. If use of substandard material was reported, the official concerned would be dealt with in accordance with law, he warned.

He said that embezzlement of funds would not be tolerated and stressed the need for using the money for sustainable development.

Mr Baloch expressed the resolve to provide transportation and communication facilities to people in the province.

He said work on main highways, including N-85, Sorab to Hoshab, Kalat, Chaman and Quetta, which remained incomplete for a decade, had been restarted.

The chief minister, who was informed that the crime rate has decreased significantly in Panjgur district, directed police and Levies Force to act against criminals without fear so that the province could be put on the path to development.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2014