Pakistan Navy (PN) has taken up various socioeconomic projects in coastal areas of Balochistan, with the sole aim of empowering youth through education and to bring them at par with the rest of Pakistan. One such step in this direction is the establishment of Cadet College Ormara (CCO). The foundation of Cadet College Ormara was laid on 12 June 2012 by former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani. The college started its academic session in April 2013 by the joining of a batch of sixty cadets, with hope and conviction that by the passage of time, this institution will become synonymous to quality educational institute for the coming generations.
The basic cause to establish this institution in the city of Ormara was to bring the light of education to this remote area of Balochistan and provide equal opportunities to the youth and to make them capable enough to compete with not only the rest of the country and but also the world.
PNS Darman Jah
In Balochi, “DarmanJah” denotes “a place of cure and healing”, which is an apt and befitting name for the new and first ever hospital facility established by the Pakistan Navy in Baluchistan’s coastal town of Ormara. Balochistan has been neglected far too long, resulting in heartburn, bickering and insurgency, which has been instigated and exploited by Pakistan’s detractors. The establishment of the international port at Gwadar, the coastal highway, dams, highways, and military cantonments with facilities like schools, dispensaries, playgrounds, canteens, and other wherewithal have not only provided employment opportunities, but also contributed towards raising the quality of life of the Balochis, since they would also have access to these facilities.
Pakistan Navy has been a major contributor to the cause of engaging the Balochis positively, with a view to improve their living conditions. The entire coastal belt of Balochistan, which was below par in its potential due to lack of communication facilities, education and medical services, is now being brought into the mainstream through various national endeavours. Pakistan Navy’s Naval Base Jinnah – instituted to become a full fledged operational establishment – will not only be an important milestone towards the defence of the maritime frontiers of Pakistan, but also provide employment opportunities to the people of Pasni, Turbat and Gwadar.
Chief of the Naval Staff (then), Admiral Noman Bashir, who inaugurated the Darman Jah Hospital, in his speech on the occasion, highlighted that the strength of civilian employees in the navy would become the biggest profession of the people of the area, second to fishing. The uplift of any nation cannot be ensured until the torch of education is lit and its people imbibe the spirit of learning. Balochis’ deprivation of education has been on two account slack of educational facilities and suppression by feudal/tribal leaders. It is heartening to note that the navy’s welfare activities and its endeavour to develop the coastal belt include the establishment of Bahria Schools at Ormara and Gwadar, providing the incentive of selecting Balochi students after class VII and educating them at navy’s schools at Karachi, besides setting up a Cadet College at Ormara.
In the realm of providing medical facilities, PN had already taken the initiative of establishing medical camps and free medical amenities for the Balochis at its units in the coastal belt. However, there was a dire need to set up a modern hospital to render specialist level medical and healthcare treatment facilities. Realising this urgent requirement, it took the timely decision of establishing a 100-bed hospital near Ormara city, due to its central location. The hospital, apart from catering to the naval personnel, will also offer its healthcare facilities to the local populace. Recruitment of the hospital’s female paramedic staff is being made from the local area.
After receiving the requisite training at PN’s Hospital SHIFA at Karachi, they will be qualified to serve at the hospital. Encouraging the Baloch women to enter service is testimony to pursuance of PN’s sustained policy towards uplift and development of Balochistan. Darman Jah is a full-scale medical facility housing trauma care, operation theater, labour room, pathology, radio diagnostic centre and dental treatment. It is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery.
