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| Baloch students marching towards Punjab, 2020 |
In March 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world came to a standstill. Shops, factories, and industries shuttered, malls and restaurants emptied, and even the sea-beach lay silent without its usual bustle.
Simultaneously, governments ordered the closure of educational institutions to curb the spread of the virus, prompting many people to return to their hometowns. Numerous Baloch students studying in universities across Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, and Karachi also returned to their native towns.
However, as soon as the government announced the reopening of educational institutions, Baloch students were shocked to learn that the Punjab government had revoked reserved quotas for students from Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
"When we approached the Vice Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakaria University (BZU) Multan, he informed us that the Balochistan government had ceased funding, making it unfeasible for the university to support our education," remarked Zameer Ahmed, 21, a student of the Institute of Finance and Banking at BZU Multan.
University officials agreed to reinstate the quotas if either the Balochistan or Punjab government ensured funding, according to the Baloch Students Council (BSC).
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| Zameer covered in blue with a yellow chaddar, strategically placed. |
Zameer Ahmed had traveled approximately 1097 kilometers from his hometown of Keelkor, Panjgoor—a severely underdeveloped area in Balochistan, despite being one of the most resource-rich yet economically deprived provinces. In 2017, upon receiving news of his scholarship to study at the university, he proudly shared with friends that he would be the first in his impoverished family to study outside the province. Zameer Ahmed belongs to a middle-class family in the district.
"I was in my hometown when I heard that reserved seats for Baloch students at the university had been suspended," he said, filled with despair. "I was devastated because the university was my only hope."
Under the PPP government in 2008, reserved seat quotas were initiated for economically disadvantaged students from Balochistan under the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package. These students received not only free education but also accommodation. However, over time, these reserved seats began to diminish, and eventually, the university issued a notification to reduce them. Reports indicate that the Balochistan government owes funds to the Punjab government.
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| Baloch students en route to Punjab |
Zameer's father, Abdul Wahid, had pinned his hopes on him breaking free from their hand-to-mouth existence, believing that upon graduation, he would secure a good job.
Zameer is not alone in his predicament. Abdul Samad Baloch traveled 752 kilometers from Khuzdar district to reach the university. Like Zameer Ahmed, he learned about the university's reserved seats through the Baloch Students Council (BSC).
"If I hadn't received this scholarship, I would have not only abandoned my education but also deprived myself of a fundamental right," he added. "We began a peaceful protest that lasted for 40 days. During this time, we approached the Balochistan government, which, as usual, reassured us that the university would reverse its decision to reduce quotas."
According to Waqar Baloch, chairman of the BSC, when the peaceful sit-in failed to yield results, they had two options: either initiate a hunger strike or march towards the capital.
Students in Balochistan have to exchange buses and trains to travel on an average 1400 kilometres to avail a university.
"Given the lack of media coverage, we felt a hunger strike would not effectively convey our protests to higher authorities. Therefore, we embarked on a long march," he explained.
The long march commenced on October 10, 2020, covering a distance of 302 miles and concluding on the 12th day. Their demands were clear: restore and increase reserved seats for students from Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Punjab's universities or establish additional universities in peripheral regions.
"On the third day of the march, one of our colleagues was struck by a motorcycle," he lamented. "Fortunately, we received security assistance, but we lacked essential supplies."
By the second day of the march, government officials remained unmoved, leaving participants with blistered feet. Chanting slogans such as "Restore reserved seats and scholarships in Punjab's universities" and "Unacceptable anti-education policies," they traversed Punjab's cities en route to Lahore, where they protested outside the Punjab Assembly.
On October 23, they received a visit from PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who assured them that their demands would be met. Later, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar invited the students to the Governor House and reinstated the seats.
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| A photo of the students who succeeded in increasing the Balochistan Quota |
Incidents like these are commonplace in remote areas of Balochistan. Zameer Ahmed's situation is not unique; a significant portion of Baloch youth foregoes education due to financial constraints or the absence of necessary educational institutions. However, restoring quotas alone is not the solution.
Despite a population of 12 million, Balochistan has only nine universities, lacking fundamental facilities. Consequently, students like Zameer Ahmed and Abdul Samad Baloch must travel significant distances: 30 kilometres to reach a primary school, 260 kilometres to reach a middle school, 360 kilometres to reach a high school and exchange buses and trains to travel on an average 1400 kilometres to avail a university.
This is a severe indictment of the Balochistan government's failure to ensure basic education for its youth.
Note: This protest initially took place in 2020, resulting in an increase in the quotas for Baloch students in Punjab universities.
