THE Director of Education, Karachi, Dr Arif Shah Gilani, has disallowed wearing of tight-fitting dresses by students, both boys and girls, in the city with immediate effect.

The step is understood to have been taken in view of growing “teddyism” in Karachi and a large number of complaints that those wearing tight-fitting dress were mostly students.

The Director of Education has instructed all the heads of Government and non-Government Colleges and Schools in Karachi that in future a student’s dress should be such as was becoming of a Muslim boy or girl and should reflect Pakistani culture.

Dr Gilani, in his circular on Wednesday, said: “Dress reflects character. It shows the culture and traditions of a nation and its individuality. Pakistan was founded with the express purpose of enabling Muslims to lead Islamic way of life.”

“Keeping these facts in view,” the Director added, “it is desired that our students, both boys and girls, should follow the ideology for which Pakistan was created and reflect it in dress also. As such, no tight-fitting dress should be allowed to be worn by students, both boys and girls.”

This is stated to be [the] first step towards curbing growing “teddyism” in Karachi, which has the largest number of “teddies” as compared with other cities of Pakistan.

While disallowing tight-fitting dresses in educational institutions, the Director has instructed the inspecting staff to see that none of the colleges or schools violated the directive.—Correspondent