Students protest fee hike in Peshawar

Demand withdrawal of new sports charges

PESHAWAR:

Students from various government colleges staged a large protest in Peshawar on Monday against a significant increase in fees, particularly the new sports charges.

A large number of students gathered at Assembly Chowk, holding banners and raising slogans against the provincial government's decision. Police deployed in strength restricted the protesters to the area beneath Souray Bridge leading to Assembly Chowk, causing traffic disruption on the busy GT Road.

The protesters carried placards demanding the immediate withdrawal of the fee hike. They chanted strong slogans against the government, terming the decision as anti-student and unjust to the poor.

Speaking during the demonstration, the students said the government has added more than Rs4,000 per semester in the name of sports activities. They pointed out that most colleges lack any sports facilities and no such activities are conducted, yet the new charges have been imposed.

"Previously, one BS semester fee was around Rs11,000. Now they are demanding Rs20,000," the students said, adding that the increase includes examination fees, practical charges, project fees and other heads.

The protesters described the move as a major injustice to underprivileged students. "The government has declared an education emergency in the province, but at the same time it is closing the doors of education for poor students through such harsh decisions," they said.

They warned that the fee hike across 145 government colleges would result in the collection of millions of rupees from students and could turn the dream of higher education into an unattainable reality for many from low-income families.