LAHORE, Feb 28: A number of boarders at the Queen Mary College hostel complain of poor quality mess, sanitation and a show of discrimination by the administration on certain occasions.

The hostel and college administration, however, dismiss the complaints.

Students informed Dawn the hostel was untidy while the mess was not only substandard but also below required quantity.

Moreover, it did not match the notified menu. They said the hostel canteen was too expensive as the contractor charged three times higher than the market rates.

They complained that dirty washrooms lacked hot water during winter though geysers were available.

The students said the college and hostel administration demonstrated a discrimination during the allotment of rooms. They said the students from influential families were given separate rooms whereas master’s level students were forced to live in dormitories.

They also complained that students were not allowed to carry computers or cell phones, but still some students could be seen carrying these gadgets.

When asked, the students said their complaints to the administration had gone unheeded so far.

Students said on the one hand the mess management did not give them food in required quantity and on the other they were not allowed to cook for themselves.

“Why are they charging heavily under the head of gas charges when they neither provide us hot water in washrooms nor allow us to cook for themselves?” a student asked.

They said the hostel also lacked medical facilities and students themselves managed medication whenever they fell ill.

A college spokesperson said it was ridiculous to say that the hostel was untidy or services including the mess were substandard.

She said the hostel building was new and the hostel as well as the mess management was superb. She claimed the administration had not received any complaint from any student.