No classes at Karachi universities for 2 hours

Lecturers and professors boycott classes for two hours as they continue their protest against the govt.


September 24, 2010

KARACHI: A token strike was observed for two hours at the University of Karachi (KU) and Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUAAST) on Thursday.

Lecturers and professors boycotted classes for two hours on Thursday, as they continued their protest against the government for reducing funds for universities. Educational activities remained suspended in the morning shift from 11 am to 1 pm. The classes in morning and evening shifts continued as per routine.

The teachers’ bodies said that they will confirm their future plan of action after the Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Association’s (FAPASA) meeting in Islamabad on Friday. Karachi University Teachers Society President Dr Abid Hasnain clarified, “We are not observing the strike on the call of the chairman of the Higher Education Commission or the vice-chancellors but on the call of FAPASA.”

Sindh Professors’ and Lecturers Association’s (SPLA) Prof Dr Iftikhar Aazmi said that the prime minister’s committee has announced some relief for the universities but they have yet to decide if the allocated fund of Rs6 billion is sufficient for their needs.

A representative of the Teachers Association and student adviser at FUUAST Dr Ghulam Mustafa Niazi said that government policies have already ruined many national institutions, such as Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Steel Mills. However, cutting funds for public universities is a more serious issue, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2010.

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