CM inaugurates Gwadar Digital Library to empower youth and foster development in the region.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti emphasized on Wednesday that the development of Gwadar remains a top priority for the current provincial government.
He stated that Balochistan’s journey toward educational and intellectual progress has entered a new and impactful phase, highlighted by the inauguration of the Zahoor Shah Hashmi Digital Library in Gwadar. He described the library not just as a repository of books, but as a foundation for knowledge, scientific thinking, and collective development that secures the province’s future.
The Chief Minister expressed these views during the opening ceremony of the library.
The event was also attended by MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, and other senior officials.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti said it was a historic moment to inaugurate such a state-of-the-art digital library in a strategically important city like Gwadar.
He noted that the library, counted among the finest in Pakistan, was entirely funded by philanthropists and stands as a symbol of community-driven development.
The Chief Minister stressed that when the public, civil society, and local administration come together with a shared purpose, remarkable progress in education and development is possible.
He praised the initiative and encouraged other district administrators and officials to replicate this model across Balochistan to expand access to knowledge and skill development for the youth.
During his visit, Bugti met with students in Gwadar, whom he called the true asset and future of Balochistan. He reiterated his government’s commitment to good governance, equal education access, and development opportunities.
He also announced the launch of the “Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program,” which, for the first time in Balochistan’s history, will fully fund 16 years of education for ten boys and ten girls from each district who excel in their matriculation exams.
In addition, the government is offering merit-based PhD scholarships for Balochistan’s youth to pursue doctoral studies in top 200 global universities, especially in scientific fields.
He added that, for the first time, recruitment in health and education departments has been conducted purely on merit, ensuring fair employment for young professionals.
In the past year alone, over 3,200 previously closed schools have been reopened, and for the first time in decades, medical centers are now providing regular services with doctors available to the public.
Bugti reiterated Gwadar’s importance to the province and the nation, stating that its development would bolster economic stability both provincially and nationally.
He expressed pride in Gwadar’s youth who have succeeded in competitive exams like CSS and PCS, making a name for Balochistan at the national level.
Addressing the youth directly, the Chief Minister urged them to choose the path of education, skills, peace, and development. He warned that some misguided elements are trying to lure young people toward extremism and violence.
He stressed that the choice lies with the youth, whether to pursue development or be misled, but assured that the government will support those who choose knowledge, progress, and peace.
During the ceremony, it was revealed that the Zahoor Shah Hashmi Digital Library was built under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Gwadar, Hamood-ur-Rehman, at a cost of approximately Rs. 60 million with support from various donors and organizations.
The library hosts over 300,000 digitized books along with thousands of printed texts, and offers dedicated reading spaces for women, children, senior citizens, and students preparing for competitive exams.
It is a fully air-conditioned facility powered by solar energy, ensuring uninterrupted 24-hour electricity. Several halls have been named after prominent figures including Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, his father Mir Ghulam Qadir Bugti, and Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced the provision of laptops and preparatory books for competitive exam students in Gwadar.
He and other speakers praised Deputy Commissioner Hamood-ur-Rehman and his team for establishing this modern facility and pledged to expand similar knowledge centers across Balochistan to promote a culture of reading and research.
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