Rural NUST

This refers to the news report, ‘Terrorists are externally funded, internally facilitated: COAS’ (February 3). The report quoted Gen Raheel Sharif stressing the need for making the Baloch youth partners in prosperity. For this purpose he announced the setting up of a National University of Science and Technology campus in Quetta. The general is right in his assertion that to win the hearts of the Baloch youth education should be promoted. But concentrating all education facilities in one city – even if it happens to be the provincial metropolis – will not help achieve this target.

Balochistan is sparsely populated. At present, Quetta has four universities. In addition, the government has approved plans to upgrade the Bolan Medical College and the Agricultural College to universities. People living in rural areas are dependent on Quetta for quality and higher education. The construction of the NUST campus in a congested Quetta city will accelerate urbanisation and concentration of wealth. The NUST campus would be more productive if established in interior Balochistan.

Atta-ur-Rehman Essazai

Besima, Balochistan