Sui Cantonment turned into military college

QUETTA – Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani on Monday laid foundations for dismantling the Sui Cantonment and turning it into the country’s third military college, saying an educated and prosperous Balochistan guaranteed a strong and sovereign Pakistan.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the country’s third military college in the gas-producing town of Sui in Dera Bugti district, the army chief said the people and army could together make Pakistan stronger and masses were the real power of the army.
He said the army was playing its role for promoting education, so that Baloch youth could serve the nation for prosperity and development. He said the establishment of Pakistan Educational City School in Sui would bring a positive change in the area, and it would prove a New Year’s gift to the people of Balochistan on behalf of the Pakistan Army.
Gen Kayani said presently, 23 thousand children from Balochistan were studying in various educational institutions. He said centres would be set up to induct Baloch youths in the army. The army chief said efforts were being made to recruit more and more Baloch youths in the army. He said 3,500 Baloch youths were imparted technical training, while 1,700 were being trained under the army in the province.
Gen Kayani said Baloch were a patriotic people and could play a constructive role in Pakistan’s defence and prosperity. He said the province was resources rich and locals had the first right over these resources. Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and Commander Southern command Lt Gen Jawaid Zia were present on the occasion.
In his welcome address earlier, Zulfiqar Magsi drew the army chief’s attention towards the rising number of missing Baloch youths and made a passionate appeal for their recovery to Gen Kayani, saying even foreign quarters were now expressing their concern over the matter.
The governor said although he was a representative of the federation and had nothing to do with missing persons as it was a task of the provincial government, he was still pleading the case to the army chief. He said a probe should be carried into the abductions and families should be told whether the missing people were dead or alive.