Ninety-four Balochistan teachers abscond abroad

While some returned after completing their studies, 94 remained abroad. The highest number of absentees belongs to the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), where 51 lecturers and assistant professors have failed to return.

The university spent Rs118.545 million on their scholarships. Similarly, 25 faculty members of the University of Balochistan went abroad under scholarship programmes costing Rs91.565 million but did not return. The Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University also funded overseas scholarships for 18 lecturers and assistant professors, spending Rs59.09 million.

However, these faculty members have likewise failed to report back to their institutions. The issue came to light during scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which sought an explanation from the heads of the universities over the substantial public expenditure and the failure of scholarship recipients to return.

In response, the university administrations informed the committee that efforts were underway to ensure the return of the 94 faculty members. They said letters were being sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), embassies of the countries concerned and the foreign universities where the teachers were studying or staying, seeking assistance in bringing them back to Pakistan.