Balochistan is the largest
province in the country with an area of 347,190sq km, or 43 per cent of the
total area of Pakistan. The population constitutes only five per cent of the
country’s total population. It is this vast difference between area and
population that attracted people from other provinces to come and settle here.
Among them were a number of educationists who made important contributions in
their field.
Balochistan was always ignored province among the provinces of Pakistan.
Facilities were never provided to this area according to its population,
moreover, the social norms always kept restrains in gaining its rights. The
province was always deprived of its basic right where education is on the top.
Literacy rate was always low as compare to other provinces here as well as
mental fertility lacks due to illiteracy and in a result gender discrimination
occurs and girl’s education lacks in this area. Women literacy rate is just 23
percent in Balochisan while few districts namely Makran, Turbat and Panjgur are
the districts in Baluchistan where situation was totally different from other
areas of Balochistan, girls were on the front queue in gaining education.
Customs and traditions were on the first priority but education was never
ignored by female segment of the district.
Keeping in view, that English language is the basic need of education in present
era, English language centers incepted classes, in against, a movement on the
name of religious extremism started that targeted the thrice district ban
education of girls. This is what following facts are interpreted.
Panjgur schools threatened:
In the beginning of year 2014, all the private schools of Panjgur were
threatened in a written form to prevent girl’s education by a religious
extremist group laskhar e islam making the excuse that with a blame of girls
education vulgarity is promoted in Balochistan.
The school owners, drivers and parents are severely threatened by letters not to
support girl’s education in any form. The letter, addressed to the owners and
administrators of all private schools, accuses them of corrupting the minds of
young girls by exposing them to a ‘western education’. So everyone in the
district got scared of educating their girls. Parents despite desiring cannot
continue their girls with education. Makran and Turbat are also prevented of
female education due to this religious extremist group.
To assert their writ and spread fear, the group carried an attack on a school
immediately after sending out the letters. Schools remained closed for several
months but as it opened in the month of May, 2014, unidentified gunmen set a
school van, transporting female students and teachers.
Although there were no major casualties, the gunmen, belonging to this newly
claimed extremist group, ensured the owner of the private school received their
message loud and clear.
Malala Yousafzai, daughter of the nation has been dignified and supported though
out the world and the issue of education of women has been highlighted but why
the federal government, provincial government, civil society, media and
international community have put the finger of silence on the issue of
Balochistan where hundreds of Malalas have been killed through the weapon of
religion and are thrown in the darkness. Is it our religion that prevents
education, No, education is the production of our religion. Think over it. Where
are the funds raised on the name of female education generated by Malala, who
will spend and secure Balochistani women in regards of education?