QUETTA: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that the future of Balochistan is very bright as the government has launched several development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to develop the province and remove the sense of deprivation prevalent among its people.

Speaking at the convocation of Balochistan University here on Wednesday, he said that future development and prosperity of the country was linked with the development of Balochistan.

Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Vice Chancellor of Balochistan Univer­sity Dr Javed Iqbal, senior professors and top government officials attended the ceremony.

The president and the governor awarded degrees to more than 300 male and female students.

The president said the CPEC would bring about a revolutionary change for Balochistan and improve the living standard of the people of the province.

“The entire world today is looking at Balochistan in the context of the economic corridor,” Mr Hussain said, adding that the entire region would utilise facilities of the CPEC.

He claimed that after the inauguration of the CPEC project, Balochistan would get connected to the entire world through air, land and sea.

The president said that several steps were being taken to promote education in the province and one such step was the establishment of a campus of the NUML University in Gwadar.

The president advised students to concentrate on their study and make research their top priority while keeping themselves away from politics.

He urged new graduates to use their knowledge, research and leadership capabilities for the development of the province and the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai thanked the president for attending the convocation of the university.

He lauded services of the management, professors and lecturers for bringing improvement in the university over the last four years.

Vice Chancellor of Balochistan University Dr Javed Iqbal said that he had introduced the semester system in all faculties besides launching a training programme for the teaching staff of the university.

He said the university would launch its own TV channel later this month.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2017