KU teachers to observe 'Black Day' to protest ICCBS bill

KARACHI:

The University of Karachi Teachers' Association (UKTA) announced that it will observe a "Black Day" on Wednesday to protest the proposed autonomy of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), which would separate it from the university.

During a press conference, UKTA President Dr Ghaffran Alam, Secretary Maroof Bin Raoof, and ICCBS faculty member Dr Shah Hassan said a consultative meeting of teachers will be held on Wednesday, followed by a meeting of all university organisations on Thursday to decide the joint course of action.

The association criticised the transfer of ICCBS to two donors, Nadra Panjvani and Aziz Ibrahim Jamal, calling it a threat to Karachi University's integrity. "This controversial bill, masterminded by former director Dr Iqbal Choudhry, is not beneficial for higher education and has drawn concern from scientists in Pakistan and worldwide," Dr Alam said, urging Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to withdraw the bill.