Ending Scholarships and Reserved Seats for Pashtun and Baloch Students Is an Act of Enmity Toward Education: Khushal Khan Kakar

Instead of snatching educational opportunities from youth affected by unrest, quotas should be increased; discriminatory attitudes will harm national unity: Pashtunkhwa NAP chief

LAHORE (Daily Qudrat Quetta): Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (PkNAP) Chairman and Member of the National Assembly Khushal Khan Kakar has said that students and educational institutions can play a fundamental role in promoting peace, brotherhood, national equality and mutual respect. Punjab University is a common centre for students of different nations, languages and cultures, where vast possibilities exist for promoting national harmony, tolerance and international and inter-provincial brotherhood. He demanded that Punjab University and the Punjab government, instead of abolishing scholarships and reserved seats allocated for Pashtun and Baloch students, should increase them so that young people from areas affected by terrorism, unrest and economic difficulties can pursue higher education.

He expressed these views while addressing the concluding ceremony of a Peace Sports Gala organised by Pashtun students at Punjab University as the chief guest. Congratulating the organisers and students on the successful and peaceful holding of the three-day sports event, Khushal Khan Kakar said that the participation of more than a hundred teams and the organised conclusion of such a large programme through the students’ own self-help efforts is proof that young people can promote peace and harmony in society through positive activities, sports, education and cultural festivals.

He said that the beauty of Punjab University is that students belonging to Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Gilgiti, Chitrali and other nationalities study together here. This diversity can serve as an important means of strengthening national unity, mutual respect and brotherhood in the country. If students respect each other’s language, culture, history and national rights, they can play a prominent role in eliminating prejudice, hatred and misunderstandings.

Khushal Khan Kakar said that the true identity of the Pashtun nation consists of peace, love, loyalty, hospitality, brotherhood and respect for humanity. Presenting Pashtuns as linked to extremism and terrorism does not reflect their true social and cultural identity. Pashtuns themselves have been severely affected by terrorism and unrest and have borne countless hardships and losses as a result. The Pashtun nation believes in the equality of all nations, human dignity, democratic values and peaceful coexistence. It is not right to consider any nation inferior or to discriminate against it on the basis of its language, identity or ancestral area.

He said that all nations, including Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Gilgiti and Chitrali, have equal status, and the basis of relations among them should be respect, equality and justice. Instead of making political differences a means of hatred and enmity among nations, they should be resolved on the basis of the people’s real problems, national rights and democratic principles. Every nation has the right to protect its language, culture, land, resources and right to governance, and respect for the rights of other nations is an essential part of the same principle.

He said that terrorism and unrest ongoing for a long time in Pashtun areas have severely affected educational institutions, infrastructure, businesses and the economic life of the people. In these circumstances, many families are unable to bear the cost of their children’s higher education, while the lack of educational facilities is also a major obstacle for young people. In view of these difficulties faced by students of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is incumbent upon the Punjab government and Punjab University to take special measures for the education of these young people.

Khushal Khan Kakar said that students have been told that there is a fear that some scholarships and reserved seats available for Pashtun and Baloch students may be abolished in 2027. He demanded that instead of abolishing these facilities, they should be maintained and increased. The scope of need-based scholarships, reserved seats and other educational facilities for deserving students should be widened so that young people from deprived and unrest-affected areas can also acquire quality education and play their role in the country’s development. He said that if even a modest portion of the educational capacity available in Punjab’s universities were reserved for students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, thousands of young people could be provided with better educational opportunities.

He said that the educational facilities and scholarships provided to Pashtun students by the people of Punjab, the Punjab government and Punjab University are viewed with appreciation. However, the need is to further expand these facilities so that students coming from areas facing difficulties can complete their education and play a role in promoting development, peace and prosperity in their regions. Such steps will not only improve the future of students but also strengthen trust and unity among different nations.

The PkNAP chairman urged Pashtun students to respect the language, culture and rights of the area where they live and study, and to promote peace, harmony and mutual cooperation together with the local people. He said that student organisations, including the Pashtunkhwa Students Organisation, should, along with educational and political activities, create tolerance and democratic awareness among young people through positive cultural programmes, study circles and intellectual training.

Appreciating the role of the organisers of the Peace Sports Gala, particularly the student organisation FIDAM, he said that the students have set an example of discipline, collective cooperation and positive activities by organising such a large event with limited resources and through self-help. He suggested that Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitrali and Kashmiri cultural days should also be celebrated at Punjab University so that students can closely understand each other’s culture, language and traditions and harmony among different nations can be further promoted.

In the end, Khushal Khan Kakar congratulated the team that won the football competitions and also praised the performance of the runner-up team. He said that such peaceful and organised sports competitions are an effective means of bringing young people closer, promoting healthy activities and creating an atmosphere of brotherhood in society. Thanking the organisers, he expressed the hope that such programmes will continue in the future as well and that Punjab University will continue to play its role in promoting peace, respect and unity among different nations.