KARACHI: Academic activities at Karachi University (KU) would resume on Tuesday (today) after teachers’ representatives called off their strike on Monday evening following their successful negotiations with government officials.

Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) chairman Dr Tariq Rafi, SHEC secretary Moin Qureshi, and universities and boards secretary Noor Ahmed Samoo had invited the protesting teachers after the caretaker chief minister took notice of the strike that had been continuing on the campus for several days.

KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Iraqi also attended the meeting held at the SHEC head office.

“Almost all our key demands have been accepted and we have no reason to continue with the strike,” Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) president Prof Soleha Rahman said, while expressing gratitude to the chief minister for taking immediate notice of their grievances.

The demands included release of Rs70 million in 10 days to pay off the pending dues of the evening classes, third-party audit of university’s finances, approval of the university budget by the Senate and release of funds for enhanced salaries once this subject gets the nod of the university syndicate.

“Dr Rafi and Mr Sammo have guaranteed that these steps would be implemented,” she said, adding that teachers’ had also received the assurance that the university would get a new director of finance.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2023