Only Two Pashtun Districts of the Province Included in KESCO’s Vacant Posts, While Most Districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa Completely Ignored: Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party
QUETTA (Daily Qudrat): In a press release issued by the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party’s provincial secretariat, serious reservations and concern have been expressed over the complete ignoring of Southern Pashtunkhwa’s districts in the distribution of 2,800 posts advertised by the Quetta Electric Supply Company (KESCO) under the Federal Employment Facilitation Cell.
The statement said that in the distribution of these posts, only two Pashtun districts out of the province’s approximately 16 districts have been included, while most districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa have been completely ignored. This conduct is not only an injustice but clear proof of discrimination against the people of the Pashtunkhwa homeland.
The press release strongly demanded of the federal government, the Ministry of Energy and KESCO’s senior officials that the current distribution of all 2,800 posts advertised under the Federal Employment Facilitation Cell, interviews and other stages of recruitment be immediately stopped, that a new distribution be made on a transparent and fair basis keeping in view the population, needs and legitimate rights of all districts, that all relevant districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa be given appropriate representation and that the recruitment process be re-advertised, so that unemployed youth of this region can also get the right to employment on the basis of merit and equal opportunities.
The statement said that Southern Pashtunkhwa is already suffering from severe economic backwardness and unemployment, where employment opportunities are as good as non-existent and thousands of educated youth remain deprived of jobs despite obtaining degrees. Limited opportunities for recruitment in government institutions, the lack of industrial and commercial activities and continuous neglect in development projects have further narrowed the doors of employment for youth. In such circumstances, not giving appropriate representation to the districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa even in the posts advertised by federal institutions is a serious injustice to the future of the youth and will further increase unemployment, poverty and the sense of deprivation.
The press release said that it is regrettable that Southern Pashtunkhwa is being continuously ignored in every sector. The Federal Ministry of Energy and KESCO have once again deprived the Pashtun districts of their legitimate right in the distribution of 2,800 posts and, by allocating only a few seats, have limited employment opportunities for the youth of this vast area. Such unfair distribution will not only increase the sense of deprivation but also affect the people’s trust in federal institutions.
The statement further said that this discriminatory attitude toward Southern Pashtunkhwa is not limited to any one institution or project; rather, its clear example is the exclusion of not even a single Pashtun district from the Rs17 billion allocated under the Balochistan Raise Project. Similarly, in the Provincial Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and other development projects too, the districts of Southern Pashtunkhwa are being kept deprived of their legitimate share. Now the same unfair policy is being repeated in KESCO’s recruitment process, which is unacceptable.
The press release made clear that the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party will not make any kind of compromise on the economic, social and basic rights of the people and youth of Southern Pashtunkhwa. If the federal government and relevant institutions do not immediately redress this injustice, the party will launch a strong protest movement against it and, along with raising its voice on every constitutional, legal and democratic forum for the achievement of its people’s legitimate rights, will knock on every door.
