March 19, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 15, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 18: The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has been facing shortage of accommodation in its hostel for the last few years, forcing a number of students, especially those from other cities, to seek admission to the post graduate institutions near their hometowns, it has been learnt.

The QAU, the only federal university, which offers admissions on quota basis is preferred by the students from all over the country due to its international repute and status for imparting quality education.

With every new academic year, the university is increasing the number of seats in its masters programmes. Similarly, there has been a manifold increase in the number of entries for M.Phil and PhD programmes over the years.

On the other hand, the varsity administration holds lack of funds responsible for its failure to build new hostels. When contacted, the QAU provost, Dr Fayyaz Chaudhry, accepted that the university was in dire need of new hostels.

At present, he said, the varsity had five hostels — four for boys and one for girl students. Initially, each hostel was meant for 100 students, but later on it was decided that two students would share one room, he said. This way, over 900 more students were provided hostel facility, he said, adding, that in the current situation, “it will be fair to say that a large number of applications for hostel facility are refused”.

Answering a question, Dr Chaudhry said: “Owing to increasing number of students seeking hostel facility, the varsity hostel administration is using common rooms to accommodate them.”

He said, at present, a new hostel was under construction and would be available for accommodation after one year. “As per contract, its construction should be completed in next six months, however, due to traditional red tap, one year is a safe time limit,” he added.

Some students, who had been denied hostel accommodation, told this reporter that they were planning to take admission to the universities close to their hometowns.

They said the students, who had been given hostel facility, were forced to live in pathetic conditions as three to four persons were sharing one room.

The students, living in the hostels, told Dawn that, in certain cases, even five students were asked to share one room, which often resulted in scuffles among the inmates.

They said the hostels’ administration, specially with regard to allotment of room, was being controlled by the student councils. In this regard, Punjab Council controlled Hostel No 1; Pakhtoon Council, Hostel No 4; Mehran and Saraiki councils, Hostel No 3. Whereas, Hostel No 2 is allotted to M.Phil and PhD students.

They claimed that thought the QAU administration did not recognize these student councils under the university rules, over the years, it had been using them in managing hostel affairs.

The students were also of the view that the university hostel administration promoted these councils so that students, as a whole, would not be able to press for their common demands.

They said the hostel administration had failed in running hostel affairs, and, for the last few years, no annual maintenance had been carried out.

In case of Hostel No 5, meant for girl students, conditions are even worse. Although, the administration has arranged a private accommodation for girl students in H-8 sector, due to security concerns, a limited number of students prefer to live outside the campus.