KARACHI: The syndicate of the University of Karachi on Satuday decided to allot two acres of its land to the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) for construction of its building.

However, several KU teachers criticised the SHEC for seeking land from the university instead of the provincial government which is authorised to allot land to any government organisation.

In a meeting of the KU syndicate chaired by Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, “the members in principle approved the request of the provincial Higher Education Commission to allow them to construct a Sindh HEC building on the KU land,” said a press release issued by the varsity after the meeting.

However, the statement remained silent about the cost of the project or which organisation would pay for it or whether the SHEC would pay rent after relocation.

Syndicate rules building will not be used for commercial purpose and KU will continue to own the allotted land

It said that the syndicate formed a four-member committee, headed by Engineer Memon Abdul Jabbar and comprising Professor Dr Solaha Rahman, Shaibzada Moazzam Qureshi and a nominee of the provincial government, asking it to submit its recommendations about the SHEC request.

During the meeting, the syndicate made it clear that the proposed building would not be used for any commercial purposes and that the allotted land would always belong to the University of Karachi. “Whenever the SHEC leaves the building, it would be managed and governed by the KU administration,” the press release added.

In a letter, the SHEC requested the KU for two acres of land for the construction of its building.

Senior faculty members, however, voiced concerns over what they called the controversial decision and termed it “a complete surrender” by KU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi before SHEC chairman Dr Tariq Rafi.

Talking to Dawn on condition of anonymity, they believed that the KU and its syndicate were legally not allowed to dispose of its land allotted to the varsity for pure educational purposes to any other organisation.

“It is regrettable that the KU, instead of establishing new facilities for thousands of its students, disposes of its land for non-academic purposes just to appease influential persons,” said a former member of the KU syndicate.

Revenue enhancement document approved

The members also approved in principle a document submitted to enhance/increase the revenue for the campus.

Without elaborating about the nature of the revenue increase steps, the KU press release said that the VC shared that he would send this document to the finance and planning committee for discussion.

He said that the committee would prepare working papers for the implementations of the proposals in the documents The syndicate also decided to remove from services two lecturers of the physics department, Rabia Najam and Ommair Ishaque, in the light of the inquiry reports submitted separately by the inquiry officers.

The syndicate approved the revised policy on protection against harassment in the higher education institutions of the Higher Education Commission.

The members also agreed in principle to constitute a Dr Jamil Jalbi Chair, according to the rules and regulations already defined by the syndicate.

Dr Jamil had served as the eighth vice chancellor of the university.

The members also approved the names of new chairpersons in various departments as well as minutes, proceedings, action taken, and implementations of the resolutions of the previous syndicate meeting, and decisions and recommendations of the selection boards.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2024