KUTS gives KU until July 5 to remove finance director

The Karachi University Teachers' Society (KUTS) has given the administration until July 5 to remove the finance director who, they allege, is responsible for the rapid deterioration in the varsity's administrative, financial, academic, and research infrastructure.

The society warned that if the finance director is not removed from his position by July 5, then it would adopt alternative strategies, including a strong protest against him. The announcement was made by Professor Dr Saleha Rehman, President of KUTS, along with other officials at a press conference at KU on Tuesday.

Despite educating over 45,000 students annually and producing highly educated individuals for the entire country, KU is currently grappling with a severe financial crisis, they said. "Undergraduate laboratories are experiencing a shortage of chemicals and equipment, while delays in salaries and pensions have become a routine, despite the increase in student fees."

They further claimed that the teachers have gone unpaid for two and a half years at various intervals, resulting in the cessation of research work due to the lack of research grants.

Prof Saleha Rehman, along with Ghofran Alam and Secretary Anjuman Faizan Naqvi, blamed Finance Director Muhammad Tariq Kaleem for the sorry state of affairs at KU. They highlighted that the finance director is frequently absent from the university, and while his office has a contingency fund of Rs100,000, the contingency funds for all departments amount to only Rs25,000.

Furthermore, delays of two to three months in disbursements are common, and the university is functioning without a proper budget. In the previous syndicate meeting, the finance director presented a one-page budget, which faced strong objections from syndicate members, ultimately leading to the budget's rejection.

Additionally, evening program teachers have gone unpaid for two years, and the finance director is unlawfully availing himself of medical allowances despite being a contract employee, they alleged. Insufficient facilities in laboratories and a lack of research grants have hindered research on new topics, leaving universities in a stagnant position.

They further stated that while the Sindh government has increased grants in the recent budget, it has shown little seriousness in appointing a finance director with the necessary skills and qualifications to ensure financial accuracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2023.