Visibly distressed, Qasim Khan Bugti says lack of employment opportunities and repeated rejections had left him disheartened, prompting him to take the drastic step of burning his degrees as an expression of frustration and protest
QUETTA: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-June 12nd, 2026) A young graduate from Dera Bugti, Balochistan, set his academic certificates on fire outside the Quetta Press Club in a symbolic protest against prolonged unemployment and the expiry of age limits for government jobs, an incident that quickly went viral on social media.
The eyewitnesses said that the youth, identified as Qaim Khan Bugti, said he had completed his education and appeared in several competitive examinations across Balochistan. He also applied for multiple vacancies in both public and private sectors but remained unsuccessful despite years of effort.
Visibly distressed, he said the lack of employment opportunities and repeated rejections had left him disheartened, prompting him to take the drastic step of burning his degrees as an expression of frustration and protest.
On the occasion, the young graduate appealed to the authorities to ensure a merit-based and transparent recruitment system in the province so that educated youth could be provided equal opportunities. He said that the current situation had shattered the hopes of many young people like him.
Videos and images circulating on social media showed the graduate burning his certificates, sparking widespread discussion online. The incident drew mixed reactions from users, with some describing it as a powerful expression of anger against systemic issues, while others termed it an emotional response driven by frustration.
Unemployment among educated youth remains a long-standing issue in Balochistan, where a significant number of graduates continue to struggle due to limited job opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Experts say that concerns over merit-based recruitment and employment generation have persisted in the province for years.
Similar incidents of symbolic protests have been reported in different parts of the country, where unemployed graduates use their educational documents to highlight grievances over job scarcity. Analysts stress that addressing the issue requires policy-level reforms and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities for the youth.
