Students of the University of Balochistan sub-campus in Mastung staged a protest in Balochistan’s Mastung district against delays in the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme and the continued suspension of internet services in the area.
According to reports, a large number of students gathered outside Degree College Mastung and blocked the national highway for all kinds of traffic, resulting in long queues of vehicles and significant disruption for commuters and travellers.
The protesting students said they had still not received laptops under the government’s youth laptop scheme despite completing the required registration and documentation process several months ago. They alleged that the relevant authorities were using delaying tactics, which they said was negatively affecting their academic activities.
The demonstrators also criticised the prolonged internet shutdown in Mastung and surrounding areas, stating that the lack of internet access had severely disrupted online classes, research work, assignments and other educational activities.
Students participating in the protest said internet access had become a basic necessity for education in the modern era, but authorities appeared unwilling to seriously address the issue.
During the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans against the government and relevant institutions, demanding the immediate distribution of laptops under the scheme and the restoration of internet services in Mastung.
The students warned that the scope of the protest could be expanded if their demands were not addressed promptly.
Traffic on the national highway reportedly remained suspended for several hours while local administration officials and law enforcement personnel held negotiations with the protesters.