In the spotlight: FUUAST VC links campus violence to low fee

Prof Dr Iqbal wants Sindh government to allocate funds for the university.

KARACHI: Public universities are no stranger to violence and indiscipline as student groups of several political parties frequently lock horns over one thing or the other. The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, has linked this phenomenon to the nominal fee that is charged at government-run universities.

“Students at public universities take campus discipline for granted as they know if they are expelled it would only cost them a few thousand rupees as opposed to a loss of a hefty amount if thrown out of a private varsity,” he said, while speaking to the media at a dinner reception at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal campus. “This makes them think twice before creating trouble in a private institution.”

When the media pointed out the exemplary discipline at the state-run NED and the Dow University of Health Sciences, Dr Iqbal said that he has chalked out a comprehensive security system and things would improve after its implementation.

In response to a question about rehiring of retired officials, Dr Iqbal said he has made only two appointments on senior posts on a temporary basis, adding they will be filled in accordance with the relevant rule soon enough. He also said that he will soon install a thumb impression-based attendance system to tackle the issue of teachers drawing their salary without showing up for work.

The media also questioned him as to why he prefers to live in Islamabad instead of giving time to the university. “Since my appointment as the VC four months back, I have stayed in Islamabad for less than four weeks,” he replied.

The university is facing a financial crunch and it receives only a meagre amount from the Higher Education Commission, while the federal and the provincial governments do not provide any funds, he said. This amount, he said, was not sufficient to cater to the university’s academic and research needs. “The Sindh government should allocate something for FUUAST as it is serving the province.”

Dr Iqbal said that he wants to see FUUAST as one of the premiere universities of Pakistan and his team is striving to set up new departments such as sports sciences, biotechnology, home management, and nanotechnology to cater to the market demand. Medical department is a costly venture and classes will start if the funds are available, he added.

According to him, a clinic for the faculty and staff, a pathological lab and a soil testing facility are also in the pipeline.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2013.