In a move aimed at addressing the growing influence of social media on the youth of Balochistan, the provincial cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, has approved a new Balochistan Youth Policy. The decision, made during a cabinet meeting on Friday, seeks to guide the province’s young population away from the negative impacts of social media and towards productive and positive pathways.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Bugti highlighted concerns about social media being used to propagate hatred and create divisions among the youth. “The seeds of hatred were sown in the minds of the youth through social media to keep them away from the state,” he stated. The cabinet emphasized the need for effective implementation of the new policy to counteract these influences and provide youth with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
In addition to discussing the youth policy, the Chief Minister addressed financial concerns related to the repayment of loans borrowed from private banks. He criticized the practice of paying substantial interest, amounting to Rs2 million daily and Rs60 million monthly, from the provincial budget. Bugti called for an end to this practice, asserting that the money of the poor should not be used in such a manner.
The cabinet also decided to enhance the professional capabilities of the police and Levies forces to ensure sustained peace throughout Balochistan. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for autonomous authorities to generate their own resources rather than relying on government support. He warned that if non-developmental expenses continue to rise, the government might face severe shortages in funding essential services like education, health, and sanitation over the next decade.
In a celebratory moment, the cabinet congratulated Israrullah Khan Kakar, recently elected president of the Oxford University Student Union. CM Bugti praised Kakar’s achievement, noting that he is the second Pakistani after Benazir Bhutto to hold such a position at Oxford. “Hardworking and talented youth like Israrullah Kakar are an asset to our country,” Bugti said.
The Balochistan Youth Policy represents a significant step towards fostering a more positive and constructive environment for the province’s younger generation, aiming to empower them while mitigating the adverse effects of social media.
