Governor Balochistan Emphasizes Leadership and Educational Reforms at Flame 2025 Conference

Islamabad:The **Governor of Balochistan**, **Jaafar Khan Mandokhel**, emphasized the importance of effective leadership and educational reforms while addressing participants at the **Flame 2025 Conference** organized by the **Higher Education Commission (HEC)** in the federal capital.

Governor Mandokhel, who has been actively involved in politics for over 35 years and serves as the Chancellor of **11 public sector universities** in Balochistan, shared his perspective on leadership. He highlighted that true leaders create other leaders, not followers, and play a pivotal role in turning visions into reality through the support of the people.

He asserted, “We can bring about positive change by utilizing exemplary leadership and management skills, fostering innovative ideas, and ensuring a safe future for upcoming generations.”

The conference, which was attended by vice-chancellors of **85 public sector universities**, **World Bank representatives**, **HEC leadership**, and several development partners, focused on **Leadership and Management Excellence**. During his address, Mandokhel raised a significant concern about the state of higher education in Pakistan, despite the country having over **20,000 PhD scholars**, many of whom have graduated from prestigious universities both within Pakistan and abroad.

He pointed out, “The government has invested billions in their education and development, yet our education system is still in decline, which is a serious concern for the nation.” He emphasized that it was the collective responsibility of leaders in education to improve the system and curriculum to meet contemporary challenges and contribute to the betterment of public sector universities.

Governor Mandokhel appreciated the successful organization of the conference and highlighted the importance of increasing collaboration among universities nationwide. He suggested that comprehensive strategies should be developed to tackle leadership challenges, stressing the need for unity among **scholars, researchers**, and relevant authorities.

“The leadership of universities is a complex issue,” he said, questioning whether a leader’s value is defined by action or position, qualifications or practical knowledge, and teaching skills or administrative abilities. These debates, he noted, should lead to diverse discussions while aligning actions towards common goals.

Governor Mandokhel concluded his address by urging Pakistan’s top scholars and administrators to devise a comprehensive strategy for all public sector universities. He expressed his belief that collaboration among these institutions would not only strengthen provincial ties but also reinforce **national unity** and **sovereignty**.

He also took the opportunity to thank **HEC Chairman**, the **National Academy of Higher Education**, and the **Managing Director** for their efforts in organizing the conference and for their ongoing commitment to higher education in Pakistan.