Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail issued a stark warning on Thursday regarding the rapid departure of senior academics from Balochistan public universities. During a high-level meeting with vice-chancellors in Quetta, he explained that the province is losing its most experienced professors to other regions. This mass migration is primarily fueled by a lack of basic facilities and growing concerns over job security within the higher education sector. The governor emphasized that the current situation is unsustainable and requires immediate intervention from the provincial government.

The loss of intellectual capital has left several academic institutions struggling to maintain their standards and research output. Mandokhail pointed out that many campuses located in remote districts are currently operating with a severe shortage of essential equipment and infrastructure. These gaps make it nearly impossible for senior staff to conduct high-level research or provide quality instruction. As a result, many bright minds feel they have no choice but to seek better opportunities in provinces where the academic environment is more stable.

Addressing the root causes of the crisis, the governor noted that professors often feel undervalued due to the absence of competitive benefits and long-term career safety. He argued that without a sense of security, academics cannot fully commit to their roles or focus on the development of their students. The meeting served as a platform to discuss why seasoned educators are opting for positions in other parts of the country. Many attendees agreed that the disparity in resources between Balochistan and other provinces has reached a breaking point.

To combat this trend, Mandokhail called for the immediate drafting of a comprehensive policy aimed at reversing the migration flow. He expressed his desire to transform the current brain drain into a brain gain by making the province an attractive destination for scholars. This plan includes providing professors and assistant professors with guaranteed job security and a better package of professional incentives. The goal is to create an environment where faculty members can work wholeheartedly without worrying about their financial or professional futures.

Looking ahead, the provincial government plans to prioritize the upgrade of university campuses in underdeveloped areas to bridge the resource gap. By improving the working conditions for educators, officials hope to stabilize the higher education system and retain local talent for the benefit of the next generation. The success of these initiatives will depend on how quickly the proposed benefits and facility improvements are implemented. For now, the focus remains on keeping existing staff from leaving while slowly rebuilding the province’s academic reputation.