Students in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, staged a peaceful march on 31 July against the closure of a Digital Library by local Pakistani authorities, alleging the shutdown had severely disrupted their education and left them with no recourse but to study along the roadside outside the shuttered building. The protest drew students, teachers, and local residents united in demanding the restoration of their fundamental educational rights.

What Happened at the Library

According to local media reports, the district administration locked the library's main entrance following the march. Several participants reportedly alleged they were mistreated during the demonstration. Students described the situation of being compelled to study on the roadside as 'extremely regrettable and concerning', and maintained that their campaign remained entirely peaceful throughout.

'Our only demand is the protection of our legitimate and fundamental educational rights,' the students said in a statement.

Demands and Warning of Escalation

The protesters formally called upon the Balochistan Chief Minister, the Commissioner of Kalat Division, and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure the uninterrupted resumption of educational activities at the library. They warned that if their demands were not addressed, they would escalate to a highway protest — and held the district administration responsible for any consequences arising from the continued closure.

Civil Society Condemns the Closure

The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) issued a sharp condemnation, calling the eviction of students from the Khuzdar Library 'a deeply alarming decision.' In its statement, the organisation said: 'Hundreds of students rely on this public library for studying, exam preparation, research, and academic learning. Denying them access to this vital educational space is an attack on students' right to education. We stand in solidarity with the students of Khuzdar.'

The Broader Education Crisis in Pakistan and Balochistan

This protest comes amid a deteriorating education landscape across Pakistan, and particularly in Balochistan, where inadequate infrastructure and limited access to learning facilities continue to undermine students' rights. A recent report noted that, two years after Pakistan declared a National Education Emergency, the country still grapples with one of the world's worst education crises — with over 25 million children remaining out of school.

According to a comprehensive comparative policy review prepared by the Civil Services Academy (CSA) and cited in leading Pakistani daily The News International, weak governance structures, fragmented administrative systems, insufficient funding, poor data integration, and provincial disparities continue to impede progress. Balochistan has been identified as the most structurally disadvantaged province in the review. Despite a reported decline in out-of-school rates from 69% in 2023 to 45% in 2025, deep infrastructural gaps persist. The province's vast geography means children often travel up to 30 kilometres for primary schooling and as far as 360 kilometres for secondary education — making regular attendance largely unfeasible across large parts of the region.

The Khuzdar library closure, however localised, is emblematic of a systemic failure to protect educational access in one of Pakistan's most underserved provinces. With students now studying on roadsides, the incident has drawn attention to the gap between policy declarations and ground-level implementation.