QUETTA: The passing-out parade of the sixth batch of Balochistan’s youths who have joined the Pakistan Army, comprising 944 recruits, was held here on Saturday.

Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai was the chief guest at the parade held at the EME Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, he said all nefarious designs and conspiracies of foreign elements against Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Karachi would be frustrated with national unity and joint efforts of the government and security forces.

He said foreign forces were misguiding and trying to use the people of Balochistan and Fata against Pakistan. “People of the country will foil all these conspiracies with unity,” he said.

The governor said it was a matter of satisfaction that youths from Balochistan were joining the army in large numbers, noting that their number in the force a few years ago was very low.

He said the army had relaxed its rules and conditions to accommodate the youths of Balochistan.

Governor Achakzai said: “A combination of individual and collective performance is necessary for the success of any mission.”

He said that through training imparted by the army the youths from Balochistan would utilise their hidden abilities to fight all internal and external dangers that the country was facing.

Mr Achakzai said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a huge project that would prove to be a game changer in the region. Pakistan Army, he added, had the ability to fulfil its responsibility of protecting the project.

The Commander of the Southern Command, Lt Gen Aamir Riaz, and other senior military officers were present.

In five years, 12,675 youths from Balochistan have completed their training after joining the army.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2015