KARACHI: Rejecting the bill seeking an independent status for the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at Karachi University (KU), representatives of Karachi University Teachers’ Society (Kuts) at a presser held on Monday announced to oppose the government’s move at every level and observe a black day on the campus today (Tuesday).
The briefing was organised at the KU Staff Club.
Speaking at the presser, Kuts President Syed Ghufran Alam said the International Centre for Science Bill 2025 had shocked teachers, creating a sense of grave unrest not just within the teachers’ community in Pakistan but also abroad.
“It’s nothing but an absolute mockery of higher education to hand over the authority to run the research institution to two donors. The attempt is also tantamount to jeopardising the future of 45,000 students and its faculty members,” he said and urged the chief minister to reconsider the move and withdraw it.
KU teachers to observe ‘black day’ today
He feared that separating the ICCBS from KU would severely harm the university’s academic and research activities.
Highlighting flaws in the controversial bill, Mr Alam said the clause to grant immunity to board members and the director was contrary to the basic principles of accountability.
“There is a serious concern that the bill will negatively impact the research projects of 650 MPhil and PhD students. It ignores the rights of teachers and employees,” he said, warning that teachers wouldn’t accept any attempt to split KU.
Prof Shah Hassan of ICCBS said that the research institution was spread over 100 acres and consisted of 27 buildings and advanced infrastructure built with taxpayers’ money.
“The donors’ contribution doesn’t even constitute one per cent of the institution’s budget. Transferring billions of rupees’ worth of this land, educational assets, and research infrastructure to donors who contributed only a few crore rupees is a grave injustice. The proposed bill deprives teachers of their right to lodge complaints and seek legal remedy, a step which is neither democratic nor constitutional.”
Other Kuts representatives, including Dr Maroof Bin Rauf, Taha Bin Niaz and Dr Zeeshan Iqbal, urged the government to hold consultations with all stakeholders on the matter.
They demanded that the government refrain from violating democratic values and the university’s autonomy. They emphasised that if new universities are needed in Karachi, they should be established with new infrastructure rather than dismantling existing institutions.
Meanwhile, the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Sindh chapter) has also written a letter to the chief minister, urging him to reconsider the bill.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2025
