KARACHI: Teachers and the non-teaching staff at Karachi University (KU) finally accepted government assurances over their key demands and announced to postpone their protest on Tuesday, including the boycott of semester exams, after holding a sit-in at the Silver Jubilee Gate earlier in the day.
The protest over non-payment of dues had been continuing for over a month and included a complete boycott of semester examinations.
Sources said the government assurances over employees’ demands were presented at a meeting chaired by Minister for Universities & Boards Department Muhammad Ismail Rahoo.
The attendees were: Sindh Higher Education Commission (Sindh-HEC) chairperson Dr Tariq Rafi, secretary universities & boards department Muhammad Abbas Baloch, Chairman Charter Inspection and Evaluation Committee Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, secretary Sindh-HEC Dr Noman Ahsan and representatives of KU teachers and non-teaching staff – President Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) Syed Ghufran Alam, President KU Employees Welfare Association Zahid Hussain Baloch and President KU Officers’ Welfare Association Faisal Hashmi.
Protest over non-payment of dues had begun on May 5
Sources said the KU representatives held an initial meeting with the KU vice chancellor the same day prior to attending the high-level meeting.
“After a lengthy discussion, it was resolved that a summary will be moved by the universities & boards department, government of Sindh, regarding favourable recommendations for ex gratia and housing rental ceiling for the employees of Karachi University.
“Accordingly, the associations’ representatives assured to call off the ongoing strike at the University of Karachi after consultation. The committee already constituted will continue to work,” the minutes of the meeting released after the discussion say.
Sources said it’s the second meeting of government officials with KU representatives in a week.
Speaking to Dawn, the Kuts president confirmed that all stakeholders, including the non-teaching staff, had accepted government assurances and were postponing the protest movement.
“We all appreciate the government’s efforts as it has given us assurances in writing. This happened in the presence of top education and university officials, including the minister. Our response also means to show respect to Ashura. Let’s see how things develop and promises are delivered,” Mr Alam said, without going into the details of the consensus reached.
Earlier in the day, a large number of teachers and the non-teaching staff, supported by students and representatives of different bodies, held a major demonstration at KU’s Silver Jubilee Gate. They expressed serious concern over what they described as delaying tactics of the government and threatened that they would block University Road if their demands were not accepted.
It might be recalled that KU employees had been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things.
They had also called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refused to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands.
Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026
