KU introduces charged parking system

Karachi
The Karachi University introduced the charged parking facility outside its campus on Tuesday under which Rs10 will be collected from every motorcyclist while drivers of four-wheelers will pay Rs20 for leaving their rides outside the Silver Jubilee gate.
Though this decision by the university administration invited criticism, the officials said it was done to overcome expenses of the government-run facility. However, the management did not bother to take this matter up to the varsity's senate or syndicate. The decision was taken and implemented without proper approval from the relevant forums.
The News learnt that the idea was floated by the KU’s campus adviser for security affairs, Dr Muhammad Zubair, for earning “handsome” revenues for the public university which certainly needs financial support. However, he could not be reached for comment since he was out of the country.
On the other hand, members of the KU syndicate expressed their total ignorance of the matter. "Since the matter was not tabled in the Senate or Syndicate meetings, I am unable to comment on it. Personally, I believe that the issue should have been discussed in the relevant forums before immediate implementation,” said a syndicate member, Dr Muhammad Qadri, who is the chairman of political science department.
Tens of thousands of students who come to the university for appearing in BA and BCom papers will now have to pay parking fee for leaving their motorcycles and cars at the gate, as will the hundreds of visitors who come to KU on a daily basis.

Security plan
Meanwhile, KU registrar Prof Dr Moazzam Ali Khan claimed that a security plan was being devised and enforced with the collaboration of the law-enforcement agencies.
Talking to The News, he said both short and long term plans were being devised and enforced for campus security.
In this regard, he said, a survey has been conducted for identifying spots for installation of CCTV cameras at different check and entry points and a central control room will also be built.
The registrar said the blue prints of the plan were ready while formal proceedings will take place in the coming days.
He said private security guards will be hired to ensure a peaceful, safe and pleasant environment at the KU campus, a symbol of prestige for educational institutions.
Moreover, he said, proper lightning arrangements will also be ensured by installing search lights on the roads of huge campus

Tinted vehicles
However, an interesting decision which surfaced on Tuesday was the formal ban on vehicles with tinted glasses at the campus.
Last week, the varsity received a barrage of criticism when Ayyan Ali showed up at the department of public administration to support a charity.
Subsequently, the KU administration issued show-cause notices to two students and the chairperson of the department.
On Tuesday, the security section of the university received a written communiqué that vehicles with tinted glasses were not allowed at the campus, when this regulation has already been in place for a number of years.