58% of Children Out of School in Balochistan, Islamabad Treats Province Like Colony: Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman
QUETTA: Leader of the Haq Do Tehreek, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, has said that 58% of children in Balochistan are out of school, alleging that Islamabad’s ruling authorities treat the province like a colony and its resources as “spoils of war.”
Speaking during the provincial budget debate, he objected to the absence of departmental secretaries and also recited a poem by poet Habib Jalib in protest. He congratulated the chief minister and his team on presenting the budget, stating that he wants to work for the development of Gwadar.
He said that out of 313 schools in Gwadar, most are functional, however 10 newly established health centers remain non-operational out of a total of 54 facilities in the area.
He further highlighted alarming social indicators, stating that 58% of children in Balochistan are deprived of education, 1.1 million children suffer from malnutrition, and the province records the highest maternal mortality rate in Asia.
He added that 40% of the population lacks access to electricity and 83% remains without gas supply, while only 5,000 jobs have been allocated in the budget for 6.5 million youth.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman criticized federal authorities, saying that Islamabad treats Balochistan not as a province but as a colony and exploits its resources. He alleged that projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have only resulted in checkpoints rather than meaningful development.
He further stated that he does not want compensation offered under fuel savings schemes, saying, “Return this money to their faces.” He also suggested boycotting Islamabad-based authorities.
He criticized governance disparities, stating that MPAs are not provided vehicles while junior officials receive official transport, and said that while the province faces severe hardships, millions are spent on fireworks.
He added that if leaders can mediate peace between countries like the United States and Iran, they should also be able to resolve the issues of Balochistan.
