Quetta: Security concerns in Balochistan have forced major universities to shut their campuses indefinitely. The University of Balochistan announced on Tuesday that all academic activities will now take place online. The administration did not give a reopening date.
Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University has already switched to virtual classes. Female students are now attending lectures online due to the rising threat levels in the province.
Similarly, the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) has also suspended all physical classes. According to the university, online classes will continue until Eid-ul-Fitr. BUITEMS has also stopped its transportation services indefinitely. However, academic sessions at its Zhob and Muslim Bagh campuses are still ongoing.
Sources said that these decisions were taken due to increasing security concerns in Balochistan. A senior official from the provincial government, speaking anonymously, confirmed that two universities were ordered to shut last week. On Tuesday, a third university was asked to switch to virtual learning as well.
“The overall security situation was reviewed,” the official said. “It was decided that virtual classes would continue until further notice due to security threats.”
The closure affects thousands of students across the province. The government will review the situation after Eid-ul-Fitr to decide whether campuses can reopen.
Security in Quetta and nearby areas has been tightened. Extra security personnel have been deployed across the city. New checkpoints have also been set up. These moves come after a wave of recent violence linked to separatist groups.
Last week, militants from the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked a passenger train in Bolan district. They blew up railway tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a mountain pass. The army launched a rescue operation and killed 33 militants.
Sadly, before the operation, terrorists martyred 26 passengers. During the military operation, four security personnel also lost their lives. The martyred passengers included 18 soldiers from the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC), three railway and department staff, and five civilians.
Just a few days later, another deadly attack took place. A vehicle-borne suicide blast killed five paramilitary troops. The BLA claimed responsibility for this attack too.
The rise in such violence has deepened the existing security concerns in Balochistan. Educational institutions have become a major point of vulnerability. Authorities believe moving to online learning will reduce risk and protect students.
The situation remains tense. The government and security forces are on high alert. Until stability returns, academic institutions may continue to operate in virtual mode.
