CM Bugti calls for transforming universities into centers of knowledge and innovation

QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Apr, 2026) Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, has emphasized that universities must not be reduced to mere recruitment factories but should serve as genuine centers of knowledge, research, and innovation.

He made these remarks while chairing a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to review the performance, challenges, and future plans of the University of Makran’s Panjgur campus. The meeting discussed administrative and academic affairs, as well as strategies for institutional improvement.

A special committee comprising the Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of Higher Education was formed to assess the university’s actual needs and present practical recommendations regarding staff recruitment, resource allocation, and overall institutional development.

The CM directed the committee to avoid unnecessary appointments and focus on promoting quality education.

Sarfraz Bugti stressed the importance of integrating modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, into higher education. He instructed that effective chatbots and digital solutions be developed in local languages to align students with contemporary academic requirements.

He further directed that university resources be linked to student enrollment and institutional performance to encourage competition and improvement.

Highlighting the need for merit, transparency, and accountability, Sarfraz Bugti said these principles must be strictly enforced in educational institutions. He also called for upgrading infrastructure and digital facilities at the Panjgur campus to meet modern educational standards.

The CM underscored that providing quality higher education to local students is a top government priority, and all available resources will be utilized to achieve this goal. He emphasized connecting academic research with industry and the local economy to ensure that its benefits directly contribute to economic development.

The meeting also agreed to introduce special programs for faculty training and capacity building to enhance teaching standards. Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Secretary Higher Education Commission Saleh Baloch, Vice Chancellor University of Makran Dr. Saadat Baloch, and other officials attended the meeting.