QUETTA May 29: Intellectuals should guide the people and the government in the right direction and present a realistic and impartial overview of the social circumstances, says Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf.
He was speaking at the Provincial Literacy Award ceremony here on Friday.
He said he understood that intellectuals could neither be restrained from writing according to their conscience nor could they be pressured to preach a particular philosophy or ideology. "They are free in their thinking," Jam Yousuf said, adding that it was natural to expect that they would be guided by the spirit of patriotism and would work to protect the country's interest.
The chief minister said that efforts were being made by the government to eliminate poverty and bring prosperity to the common man.
He said that mega projects had been initiated in the province, adding that they would help solve issues related with unemployment and poverty.
Criticizing elements who were opposing these development projects, he said that no one would be allowed to sabotage the process to develop the province.
The chief minister expressed the hope that misgivings in this regard would end soon, saying if anyone was interested in the better future of the people, he should help the government.
Jam Yousuf announced to raise the grant for the welfare of the intellectuals from Rs1 million to Rs5 million and the amount of Provincial Literary Award Fund from Rs500,000 to Rs2 million. He also announced to provide 100 residential plots in the Rakhshan Housing Scheme to writers and intellectuals.
Later, the Chief Minister gave away cash awards and certificates to 13 writers selected by a committee for their books in Urdu, Pashto, Balochi, Brahvi and Persian for the year 2002. Each of the recipient received Rs30,000.
Those who received the awards included Imdad Nizami, Noor Khan Mohammed Hasni, Ismat Durrani, Siddiqu Azad, Abdul Majid Gawadri, Saba Dashtiari, Sial Kakar, Professor Sahibzada Hamidullah, Durwesh Durrani, Mohammed Aslam Bangulzai, Afzal Murad, Yasin Bismal and Mirza Hussai Adibi.