IT was indeed lamentable that a large number of students living in the girls’ hostel the University of Karachi had to come out protesting under the scorching sun against the unavailability of basic necessities at the said hostel. For any university enrolling a large number of students from outside the city, a functional hostel is a basic requirement. On paper, the University of Karachi has a hostel but is it worth living in? No. Just plain ‘no’!

I am a student of the department of International Relations at the university and almost every student I know from anywhere out of the city is residing in private hostels or rented accommodations. It is so because the university hostels are in a dilapidated condition.

A few days ago, the students decided that they had had enough, and came out of the hostel to get their protest registered. And what were they demanding? Supply of clean drinking water; improvement in overall hygiene, especially in the washrooms; and introduction of some level of quality with respect to the food provided in the hostel. Nobody can accuse them of asking for the moon.

The plan was to walk from the hostel to the Administration Block where the office of the vice-chancellor is located. The security officials deprived the students of their basic right to protest. Apparently, they will have to take out a rally to demand the right to take out a rally to protest against the subhuman living conditions at the hostel.

The university officials should look into the affairs and provide relief to the students.

Munawar Khosa
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022