QUETTA: An educational and literary programme was held in Balochistan’s Awaran district earlier this week.

The two-day programme was organised by the Balochistan Education System (BES) in collaboration with the Degree College Awaran and the district administration at the Awaran Public High School.

Besides students, a large number of people from Awaran, Lasbela, Makran, Quetta and Karachi attended the programme.

In his introductory speech, BES organiser Shabbir Rakhshani said that the programme had been organised in a bid to promote education in the area. He said a campaign for promotion of education in the district was launched on Oct 23 last year. He said participation of such a large number of people, including women, in the programme had proved that the people of Awaran had an extraordinary interest in education and literature.

In the first session of the programme Balochistan’s educational problems were discussed. It was moderated by Zahid Baloch. Panellists in the first session, Dr Ramzan Bamri, Abid Mir, Professor Barkat Ismail and Khalil Ronjho, spoke on possible solutions of educational problems in the province.

In the second session, the ‘students’ role in social change’ was discussed. This session was moderated by Qandil Baloch and its panellists were Najeeb Sarparra, Basheer Baloch, Zargul Zubair and Farid Mengal.

The topic discussed in the third session of the programme was ‘knowledge and literature in the Baloch society’. It was moderated by Zaheer Zarf and its panellists were Dr Ramzan Bamri, Shamim Nasrat, Maqbool Wafa and Zabad Baloch. They were of the opinion that though Balochistan was confronted with some social issues, its literary contribution was satisfactory.

The fourth and last session of the programme was held on artist Ahmad Baloch in which his performance in Kathak dance was discussed. During the session, Ahmad Baloch performed Kathak dance which was applauded by the participants.

Awaran Deputy Commissioner Hussain Baloch was chief guest at the programme.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020