JI-led towns provide eight buses to Karachi University

KARACHI: Town administrations led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have donated eight buses to the University of Karachi for its students.

The ceremony to hand over the buses was held at the university, where JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman presented the keys to Karachi University Vice Chancellor Dr Wasim Qazi.

Addressing the ceremony, Hafiz Naeem said the JI-led town administrations would provide another 10 buses to the university next year.

He pointed out that 30,000 students at Karachi University lacked access to the transport system and said the university needed greater attention to provide better facilities for students.

He noted that despite having limited authority and resources, the nine town administrations had performed well. However, he said the local government was deprived of its basic authority to provide water and sanitation services.

Referring to the university’s transport facilities in the past, he said there were 125 buses when the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) had student unions at the university.

He demanded the immediate restoration of students’ constitutional right to form unions, stating that student representation was essential for improving the education system. Student unions have been banned in educational institutions since 1984, he added.

The JI chief also raised concerns over the worsening condition of several university departments, attributing their decline to a lack of attention.

He said education remained a major priority for his party and announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign to promote it. He also called on people from all walks of life to unite and raise their voices for their rights.

Criticising the Sindh government, Hafiz Naeem blamed corruption and a dysfunctional system for hindering the province’s development. He also condemned the government over the high petroleum levy imposed on consumers.