Iran Gas Deal Urged as JI Emir Calls for Equal Opportunities for Balochistan Youth

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Iran Gas Deal Urged as JI Emir Calls for Equal Opportunities for Balochistan Youth

LORALAI, Balochistan, May 23: : Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has urged the government to strike agreements with Iran for the supply of affordable petrol and gas to Balochistan, saying the resource-rich province continues to suffer from deprivation despite its vast natural wealth.
Addressing a ceremony of the Bano Qabil programme organized by Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan in Loralai, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the youth of Balochistan should remain hopeful despite hardships, assuring them that the doors of the entire country are open for them.
Thousands of male and female students appeared in entry tests for free IT training programmes during the event. Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan chief Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch and other party and Alkhidmat officials were also present.
Rehman said societies cannot progress where injustice, exploitation and denial of rights prevail, adding that public anger naturally grows under such conditions. He criticized class-based education system in Pakistan, where elite segments enjoy modern institutions while millions of poor children remain deprived of basic education.
Referring to constitutional guarantees of free and quality education up to matriculation, he questioned why nearly 27.5 million children across Pakistan remain out of school. He said that in Loralai district alone, with a population of around 272,000, over 35,000 children are not attending school.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the ruling elite, landlords and bureaucratic classes are monopolizing national resources while neglecting education and healthcare. He also expressed concern over the spread of drugs among the youth, saying narcotics were openly available while basic public services remained absent.
Calling the Bano Qabil initiative a game changer for young people, Rehman announced that students who pass the programme’s tests would receive free education and training opportunities in IT, mobile repairing, electrical work, solar technology and other vocational skills to help them secure livelihoods.
Highlighting Balochistan’s untapped resources, including gas, coal and precious stones, he questioned why Pakistan had failed to operationalize energy cooperation with Iran. He said activation of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project could boost industry, generate employment and benefit the entire country, particularly Balochistan. He also proposed using a “virtual pipeline” model to supply gas to remote areas of the province.
Criticizing the taxation structure, he said ordinary motorcycle riders were burdened with heavy taxes while feudal elites remained exempt. He also said that the government spends trillions of rupees annually on independent power producers while failing to invest adequately in education.
The JI leader urged young people to continue struggling against injustice and support constructive and positive politics, saying Pakistan needed systemic change rather than merely replacing individuals in power.