QUETTA: The Southern Command, 41 Division, has been running several education programmes in Balochistan and 4,000 local students from Baloch and Pashtun communities are benefiting from it.

General Officer Commanding Maj Gen Aftab Khan said that Rs90 million were being spent to provide the students with free books, meal, hostel residence, uniform and other facilities.

Addressing a ceremony held in Loralai in connection with the distribution of free syllabus books and cheques among students getting education under the Chamalang Education Programme, the GOC said Pakistan Army had been running several education projects for increasing literacy rate and promotion of education in the province. He said 3,500 youths were studying in Kohlu and Loralai and 500 in Quetta and 15 other cities.

“Pak Army in collaboration with PPAF has been spending Rs90 million on the education of students belonging to Balochistan who have been getting education in different standard educational institutions of the country,” he said. He said the Army would expand its programme of providing free education, residence, meal, uniform and syllabus books to other areas.

The ceremony was attended by senior military and civil officials, teachers and tribal elders.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2015

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