KU students protest over bus fare increase

Karachi

A small group of students studying in different departments of the University of Karachi organised a protest outside the Administration Block on Wednesday against a recent increase in fares of university points.

The university’s transport department has increased the fares for the 2016 academic year and students now have to pay Rs15 for the bus ride after an increase of Rs5.

Falak, a student who is studying in the Islamic learning department and participated in the protest, said poor students could not afford an increase of Rs10 per day and the university administration should take back its decision.

“Instead of meeting our demands, university officials told protesters that students could afford the burden of the minimal increase in fares as they spend hundreds of rupees at canteens on the campus,” she said.

Despite a recent decrease in the prices of petroleum products, the university administration had increased the fares, protesters said. 

They also criticised the transport department for not paying attention to the deteriorating conditions of university points for want of maintenance.