Balochistan Govt Organizes Three-Day Policy Dialogue on Countering Violent Extremism

QUETTA: The Balochistan Home Department organized a three-day policy dialogue on the theme of “Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)” to promote awareness, policy coordination, and preventive strategies against extremism in the province.

The inaugural session of the policy dialogue was addressed by Provincial Adviser for Sports and Youth Affairs Meena Majeed, DIG Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya, Chief Coordination Officer CVE Dr Dost Muhammad Baloch, Dr Ismatullah, Israr Ahmed Madani, Iftikhar Firdous, Fahad Nabeel, and other participants.

Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Adviser Meena Majeed said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the Balochistan government is actively working on a comprehensive youth policy aimed at the social and economic well-being of young people. She said that important initiatives such as the Youth Socio-Economic Development Program have been launched to achieve this goal.

She added that under this project, youth are being sensitized to counter baseless and negative propaganda as well as misinformation. In addition, Youth Resource Centers have been established to provide career counseling and guidance to young people.

Meena Majeed said that the youth of Balochistan are highly talented, and keeping their potential in view, the provincial government is providing them with formal training. She stated that after completing training, around 30,000 youths are being facilitated with employment opportunities in other countries. Furthermore, digital skills training is being provided, and laptops will be distributed to enable young people to earn a livelihood online from their homes.

She also highlighted that football and cricket tournaments are being organized across the province to encourage youth participation in healthy extracurricular activities alongside academics.

The provincial adviser further said that the government has restored ghost schools in the province to ensure access to education for the younger generation so that no child is deprived of schooling.

Addressing the ceremony, DIG CTD Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya and other speakers appreciated the Balochistan government for organizing the policy dialogue on the important issue of countering violent extremism, terming it a positive and timely initiative. They emphasized that such programs should continue in the future to promote peace, awareness, and social harmony.