KARACHI: Although the district administration has withdrawn the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to a private party for the construction of a petrol pump on land claimed to be owned by Karachi University, the varsity has yet to regain possession of the site until the conclusion of litigation in its favour, it emerged on Tuesday.

As per the university administration, certain influential individuals had been attempting to illegally occupy the varsity land. The matter came to light last year, when the university announced legal action against the land grabbers and hired a professional law firm to deal with them.

However, despite this, construction of a petrol pump on the university’s land continued which is now ready for inauguration.

As the issue resurfaced last week, KU wrote letters to the Universities and Boards Department and other concerned departments, seeking intervention in the matter. Following this, the Universities and Boards Department approached the district administration. In a letter issued on January 19, it asked the East deputy commissioner to take immediate action against the alleged encroachment.

The letter stated that illegal encroachment on land belonging to the University of Karachi was ongoing. It named Awami Petrol Pump on Main University Road and Hafiz Petrol Pump near Khatam-i-Nabuwat Chowk, close to Kaneez Fatima Society, as unlawfully occupying university land.

Employees blame varsity administration for slow pace of action against private party constructing fuel station

After that letter, the city administration took action on the same day and cancelled the NOC for the said petrol pump issued to the private party.

A letter, issued by the East deputy commissioner on January 19, 2026, addressed the Zonal Manager (Channel Development) for Pakistan State Oil Company Limited. It says that “the NOC in respect of M/S Hafiz Petrol Pump at plot (Naclass) 01, Sector 22 Scheme 33 Deh & Tapo Gujro Taluka Gulistan-i-Iqbal District Karachi East issued earlier by this office … is hereby cancelled and withdrawn.”

However, the varsity has yet to regain possession of its premises until the conclusion of litigation in its favour. A case in this regard is already with a legal firm and the KU administration maintains that the university will establish its ownership of the land in courts and other forums and reclaim the occupied sites.

KU officials have further said that the administration has also written to the Board of Revenue and other relevant departments, seeking verification of land documents and determination of their legal status.

However, the slow pace of action by the university’s legal team as well as by the government department drew criticism. Kazim Javed, general secretary of the Neutral Employees Group at KU, questioned why the work on the petrol pump was allowed to continue and reach completion under the authorities’ noses.

Similarly, a KU official said that the government was not taking the land grab matter seriously, which is why the illegal construction had continued. He said that unless the provincial authorities take strict action against all encroachers, such occupations will not be reversed.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026