Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani has said not a single army solider was involved in maintaining law and order in the Balochistan province and there was no military operation underway in the troubled province.
Addressing cadets at Sui Military College‚ the army chief said Pakistan Army was playing a constructive role in the socio-economic development of the province.
“It is not just coincidence that I’m celebrating the National Defence Day in the Sui town of Balochistan, but it is a matter of importance and honour which the army keeps for Balochistan,” he said.
General Kayani said a thriving and strong Balochistan would guarantee the prosperity of the country, adding that “we are assisting the provincial government” to achieve the goals of socio-economic development and peace in the province.
He said Balochistan was rich in natural resources and the only need was to utilise these for the people’s welfare.
Gen Kayani said over 20‚000 Baloch students were enrolled in Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps-run education institutions, including cadet schools‚ medical colleges‚ mining institutes and others.
He said the Frontier Corps (FC) and police were dealing with all security-related matters in consultations with Balochistan government‚ and not a single army solider was involved in any operation in Balochistan.
Talking about mining institutes‚ the army chief wished Baloch people to hold important positions in these institutions‚ instead of working as labourers.
He said during the past three years‚ Baloch representation in the army had been raised from 1.7 percent to 3.5 percent.
He said the Pakistan Army had recruited over 12‚000 soldiers from Balochistan. General Kayani said 760 Baloch officers were actively playing their role in Pakistan Army and for a national army‚ all provinces must be given due representation.
He called for unity among Baloch tribes for the sake of development in the province and said if tribes established peace among themselves‚ resources of Balochistan could be utilised in public interest.
General Kayani also assured Pakistan Army’s full cooperation in the construction of Gwadar-Ratto Dero Highway and Balochistan canal.
Expressing concern over the delay in the KachiCanal project, he reiterated that he was ready to help provincial government in the early completion of the project, aimed at boosting the agri-sector of the province.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik demanded the army chief allocate special quota for the poor children of the area in army cadet colleges, adding that the Balochistan government would bear all educational expenses.
Dr Malik said the provincial government would make all out efforts to promote education in the province, particularly in the far-flung areas like Sui and Dera Bugti.
The chief minister also announced setting up three new medical colleges and three universities in the province.
He said promotion of education was vital not only for socio-economic development of the people‚ but for overcoming terrorism as well.
