Karachi:
The growing administrative and financial problems at the Federal University of Ourdou, the Arts, the Sciences and Technology (Fuuast) drew the attention of the National Assembly while its permanent education committee summoned the vice-chancellor of Dr. Zabta Shinwari on Monday.
The meeting of the year’s panel, which will be chaired by the chairman of the committee and assisted by the Federal Minister of Education, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui with 21 members, will resume the complaints of the members of the faculty relating to the non-payment of wages and pensions, the suspension of medical allowances and heavy teaching charges.
Teachers from the ISLAMABAD campus of the university, in consultation with Karachi colleagues, filed complaints claiming that two to three months of wages were underway, the housing allowance had been retained for more than a year and the medical facilities were practically removed. They alleged that the teachers were forced to teach up to six courses per semester – far beyond standard teaching expenses and even against the recommendations of the VC committee.
The letter also allegedly alleged that the teachers had been forced to take summer courses without salary, despite the university which collects millions of rupees in fees. The faculty also complained of being limited to 20 days of annual leave, against 48 days for non -teacher staff.
Teachers accused the administration of harassment against those who expressed concerns, in particular the issuance of explanatory letters and the training of investigation committees. Questions have also been raised on the legality of the University’s union, which, according to the professors, is incomplete and operates with interim officials and unauthorized deans, in violation of the university order.
