In a landmark move to promote education and ensure direct access to knowledge for children across the province, the Government of Balochistan has launched the region’s first-ever “Book Caravan” project. The initiative is part of the education-friendly vision of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hameed Durrani.
The project was formally inaugurated by Minister Raheela Hameed Durrani at Government Girls Lady Sandeman High School, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education.
In its initial phase, specially designed book vans are being deployed across 13 districts. Each Book Caravan carries over a thousand storybooks and informative titles provided by Pakistan’s top 10 publishers. These mobile libraries are equipped with storybooks, curricular and extracurricular reading materials, learning tools, activity resources, and reading programs, designed to offer children a complete and engaging learning experience in one place.
To ensure meaningful engagement, trained youth facilitators will accompany each book van. They will visit villages, towns, and neighborhoods to cultivate a love for reading, teach children how to use books, and conduct interactive reading sessions. The caravans will operate year-round, including during seasonal breaks, ensuring that even children in remote regions do not miss out on learning opportunities.
Combining the concept of a mobile library with that of a mini classroom, the Book Caravan is especially beneficial for children living in mountainous, desert, and underdeveloped areas where access to schools or libraries is limited. Trained primary teachers will drive these vehicles and conduct on-site teaching, guidance, and learning activities.
In addition to this flagship initiative, the Government of Balochistan has also established 90 new libraries across 15 districts, 45 in boys’ schools and 45 in girls’ schools, to further expand students’ access to books and improve the overall learning environment.
The provincial government believes that the Book Caravan project will not only develop a strong reading culture among children but will also help enhance educational quality, reduce inequalities in access to learning, and significantly decrease the number of out-of-school children.
