ISLAMABAD: The alumni of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has expressed that concerns about the Bhara Kahu project of the university’s faculty and other stakeholders have been ignored.

A statement issued by the Alumni Association said the bypass project had been started on QAU land and it would bisect the university’s land. The core committee of QAU Alumni Association, in its emergent meeting, reviewed the situation.

The press release said in light of continued contacts and discussions with president of the Academic Staff Association (ASA), Quaid-i-Azam University, it was pointed out that the university, being a prestigious higher education institution of Pakistan, has ranked continuously among the top 500 higher education institutions by Times Higher Education and other reputed global ranking agencies.

But, instead of declaring it a flagship institution through provision of required financial resources and resolving the pending land encroachment issue, its precious land is being further possessed for the said project, the press release said.

The association fully supported the legal stance of the QAU faculty at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and vowed to play an effective and important role to protect legitimate interests and land of their alma mater, adding that the university was already facing shortfall of over 400 acres and CDA, instead of removing encroachment from the university land, had come up with the bypass project.

On the other hand, CDA spokesperson Syed Asif Raza, commenting on the alumni’s statement, said 199 kanals of QAU land fell in the project’s alignment and the civic body had already issued an offer letter to the QAU for allotting 225 kanals of land – 26 kanals extra.

He said the civic agency started this project after approval of the QAU vice chancellor and later on the university syndicate with a majority also approved the project.

The spokesperson said the project would provide relief to millions of people and it was started for the greater interest of the public.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2022