Tankers strike: Fuel crisis shuts Karakoram varsity
Ongoing fuel crisis forces the only higher learning institute of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to shut its doors on students.
GILGIT:
The ongoing fuel crisis forced the only higher learning institute of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to shut its doors on students.
Karakoram International University (KIU) was closed for an indefinitely period because of non-availability of fuel to run the bus service of the university, said an official of the university here on Sunday.
The diesel crisis intensified in the hilly region bringing life to a standstill.
“On the directives of the Vice-Chancellor, a committee reviewed the situation of shortage of fuel and decided to keep the university closed till fuel becomes available,” a spokesperson for the university said.
The official said that the dealer who provides fuel to the university expressed its inability to continue the service. He further said that given the crisis, it was not possible for the management to keep KIU open as pick and drop facility for students and faculty members could not be provided.
The closure of the university hangs a question mark over the performance of the local administration as it has not been able to settle the issue for the past two weeks.
The crisis of petroleum products erupted earlier this month after the Tankers Association stopped transportation of fuel to the region, describing the fare being offered to them as insufficient. They warned the government that they will not resume their service until their demands are met.
“It is not possible for us to continue supply anymore with the low fare being offered to us as we cannot even meet our road expenditure with that amount,” a member of Tanker Association said.
Opposition leader Hafiz Hafizur Rehman, who is the provincial leader of PML-N, assailed the PPP government for failing to resolve the issue.
The diesel crisis, coupled with the chronic problem of power outages, hit the region at a time when the temperature in Gilgit-Baltistan has plummeted to -10 degrees Celsius, adding to the woes of the calamity-hit people already toiling under the price hike.
“I wish someone could tell the provincial government about the plight of the common people,” said Imtiaz Ali, a student.
However, a government spokesperson said on Sunday that the situation will improve within the next 24 hours after the successful negotiations with the Tankers Association.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2010.
The ongoing fuel crisis forced the only higher learning institute of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to shut its doors on students.
Karakoram International University (KIU) was closed for an indefinitely period because of non-availability of fuel to run the bus service of the university, said an official of the university here on Sunday.
The diesel crisis intensified in the hilly region bringing life to a standstill.
“On the directives of the Vice-Chancellor, a committee reviewed the situation of shortage of fuel and decided to keep the university closed till fuel becomes available,” a spokesperson for the university said.
The official said that the dealer who provides fuel to the university expressed its inability to continue the service. He further said that given the crisis, it was not possible for the management to keep KIU open as pick and drop facility for students and faculty members could not be provided.
The closure of the university hangs a question mark over the performance of the local administration as it has not been able to settle the issue for the past two weeks.
The crisis of petroleum products erupted earlier this month after the Tankers Association stopped transportation of fuel to the region, describing the fare being offered to them as insufficient. They warned the government that they will not resume their service until their demands are met.
“It is not possible for us to continue supply anymore with the low fare being offered to us as we cannot even meet our road expenditure with that amount,” a member of Tanker Association said.
Opposition leader Hafiz Hafizur Rehman, who is the provincial leader of PML-N, assailed the PPP government for failing to resolve the issue.
The diesel crisis, coupled with the chronic problem of power outages, hit the region at a time when the temperature in Gilgit-Baltistan has plummeted to -10 degrees Celsius, adding to the woes of the calamity-hit people already toiling under the price hike.
“I wish someone could tell the provincial government about the plight of the common people,” said Imtiaz Ali, a student.
However, a government spokesperson said on Sunday that the situation will improve within the next 24 hours after the successful negotiations with the Tankers Association.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2010.