Karachi: Semester examinations at the University of Karachi were severely disrupted on Tuesday after teachers boycotted the examination process, citing non-payment of dues, pending compensation, and financial grievances against the university administration.
Due to the boycott, thousands of students were reportedly forced to return home without submitting their exam papers, many of them facing extreme heat and difficult conditions outside examination centers.
The boycott was announced earlier by the Karachi University Teachers Association (KUTA) following a general body meeting, but the impact became visible when scheduled exams commenced and faculty members did not participate in invigilation duties.
The teachers’ association said the protest was triggered by the non-payment of multiple financial dues, including evening program compensation, house rent-related adjustments, supervision fees, paper setting charges, and leave encashment arrears.
In a statement, the association clarified that the decision was not emotional but based on long-standing unresolved financial issues. It stated that continuous delays in payments have placed teachers under severe financial pressure.
According to the association, the University of Karachi is currently facing an estimated financial deficit of around Rs 1.6 billion. It also pointed out that the issue of house rent payments is being affected by federal Higher Education Commission (HEC) policies, while teachers are demanding its revision and timely disbursement.
The KUTA further stated that it had repeatedly raised the matter with university administration through meetings, written correspondence, and consultation forums, but no meaningful progress had been made.
The association said teachers are demanding immediate release of six months of house rent arrears, two years of evening program dues, and outstanding payments related to M.Phil and PhD supervision, copy checking, paper setting, and examination supervision spanning the past several years.
It also demanded clearance of all remaining arrears, including leave encashment payments.
Meanwhile, the association stressed that responsibility for academic disruption and student inconvenience does not lie with teachers, but with unresolved administrative and financial issues.
University exams are scheduled to continue throughout May, raising concerns over further disruptions if the issue remains unresolved.
