QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has urged the youth to make thoughtful decisions about their future and choose the path of dignity, education, skills and development instead of violence.

He said the gap between the youth and the state will be bridged through education, skills development, employment, merit and meaningful dialogue.

The chief minister said that the government will provide all possible support to enable young people to become part of the formal economy instead of engaging in illegal activities.

He was speaking at a certificate distribution ceremony at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday.

Maulana Wasey calls for withdrawal of ‘private militia’ present in Balochistan

“The government’s objective is not merely to train young people and issue them certificates, but to enable them to stand on their own feet,” the chief minister said.

He said the government would provide skilled youth with a conducive environment, interest-free loans, business support and continued guidance so that they could establish respectable businesses in their respective areas or anywhere in the country.

Referring to the government’s employment programme for youth in border districts, CM Bugti said it had been launched to provide young people with opportunities for legal employment and businesses instead of an economy based on illegal activities.

He said attempts to push Balochistan’s girls towards violence, make them wear suicide jackets and use them for anti-state activities were contrary to the traditions of society, as well as Islam and human values.

He said efforts to distance young people from the state through anti-state propaganda could be countered by providing them with education, skills, employment and opportunities.

Separately, JUI-F Balochistan chief Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey has called for the withdrawal of the “private militia” present in Balochistan, saying it should be sent back. He said the Baloch­istan government and the chief minister were either powerless or taking decisions in instalments.

Speaking at a press conference, Maulana Wasey said the Balochistan chief minister had apologised so many times that “even apologies have now become discredited”.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2026