Armed men kidnapped Balochistan Higher Education Secretary Abdullah Jan in Quetta on Wednesday morning, police sources said.

They said unidentified gunmen picked up the official from Quetta's Sabzal Road area when he was on his way to work.

Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri took notice of the kidnapping and directed the inspector general of police to ensure his immediate recovery. A search operation was launched in various parts of Quetta to recover the secretary.

Jan's abduction comes at a time when Pakistan's 6th census is underway throughout the country and a large number of government employees, including those from the education department, are participating in the process.

Earlier on Tuesday, suspected militants had kidnapped three government school teachers in Balochistan's Awaran district.

The three teachers were reportedly returning from a training session facilitated by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics for the national census.