While the state of educational institutions in the entire country is nothing to boast about, one institution in Sindh can be singled out for being so miserably run that it is on the brink of closing down for good.
The Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, has been functioning without a permanent Vice Chancellor (VC) for the past year and is presently being looked after by ad hoc appointments, which seemingly have no interest in running the daily affairs of the institute. Furthermore, the university neither has a permanent Registrar nor does it have a Director Finance.
It is pertinent to mention that the university got to the brink of closure it is at right now after its VC, Professor Dr Akhtar Baloch, was sent on leave in February of 2022 due to allegations of misconduct with a female Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA). Allegedly Dr Baloch had sent a provocative emoji to the MPA and the case was referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). However, even though the FIA’s inquiry did not prove the allegation against the VC, the Secretary of Universities and Boards Department, Mureed Rahimoon, saw it fit to remove Dr Baloch, and sent a summary in this regard to the Chief Minister.
When asked about the inordinate delay in deciding the VC’s fate, Rahimoon replied: “The summary has been sent to the Chief Minister and he will decide on the matter soon.”
While it remains to be seen how soon the Chief Minister decides Dr Baloch’s fate, the ad hoc system that is running the institute has failed miserably, as per sources privy to the information. The Express Tribune learnt that there is no Dean for any of the 9 departments of the university; there are only 4 associate professors working; and a whopping 60 per cent of the academic load has gone to part-time teachers or visiting faculty. Moreover, the institute’s finances are also in poor shape, as it recently had to pay salaries through its reserve funds.
Interim VC of the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, Dr Amjad Siraj Memon, who is the permanent VC of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, when asked about the university being in disarray, conceded that the institute had seen better days. “The financial situation is dire evidenced by the budget deficit as we have to pay different allowances on top of the salaries to the teachers,” informed Dr Memon, adding that a cut in allowances meant that teachers would start protesting. “The university is marred by multiple issues, one of which is my life constantly being threatened by the gangs in Lyari. Another is the lack of funds to hire new teachers,” regretted Dr Memon while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.
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