Such initiatives had been launched a couple of decades ago with the help of foreign funding agencies and had some positive outcomes for students and teachers. All of them have now, unfortunately, come to a halt. In the backdrop of the war on terror, not only Balochistan but the entire education sector of Pakistan has received severe setbacks due to great reduction in its budgetary allocation for the current fiscal year.

In Balochistan, however, the current phase of unrest and insurgency took on an ugly bend when the teachers and professors came under direct attack of the insurgents, thus inflicting a severe blow on education.

Teachers hailing from other provinces found it difficult to fulfil their duties due to an ever looming threat on them. According to one estimate, more than 70 faculty members of the University of Balochistan have submitted applications for transfer.

This is a huge number given that there are only 200 faculty members in all. What effect an en masse departure of qualified faculty would have is no secret.

Apart from this, a great many schools and colleges have closed and those that are open have stopped operating according to desired standards. This disturbing situation directly impacts the younger generation of Balochistan.