KARACHI, March 9: The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, was informed on Friday that Pakistan Navy had introduced a special selection and recruitment package for youths of Balochistan.

Admiral Sandila was given a briefing during a visit he paid to forward naval bases and installations in coastal areas of Gwadar and Pasni to review Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness.

The PN chief was informed that a Naval Selection and Recruitment Centre established at Gwadar was an extension of the youth package.

According to a PN press release, apart from Baloch youths’ recruitment in sailors’ cadre, they are also being inducted into the officer category. The PN has re-introduced N-cadet scheme in Balochistan whereby students will be admitted in selected cadet colleges for a period of five years. Later, they will be given an option to join the Pakistan Navy.

An unprecedented concession under the package has been introduced wherein officers from the province will be inducted into the Short Service Commission without undergoing ISSB tests and they will be given special relaxation in the standard academic and age criteria.

In Gwadar, Turbat, Pasni and Ormara, recruitment is being carried out through mobile selection teams.

Admiral Sandila was informed that Pakistan Navy was also extending free education facility to a large number of students through Bahria Model Schools at Gwadar and Ormara.

Various government schools are being run under the patronage of the Pakistan Navy where provision of teachers, free books and furniture is being ensured. A model school up to the intermediate level is under construction at Ormara and a cadet collegeproject in town is also being undertaken.