Faculty strike at southern Pakistan universities continues over VC qualification row

Classes remained suspended at Pakistan’s largest public university, the University of Karachi, on Friday as a teachers' strike over disputed changes to academic appointments entered its third week.

The proposed amendment to the Sindh Universities Act would allow individuals with only a bachelor's degree to serve as university vice chancellors, dropping current requirements for a doctorate and 15 years of teaching experience.

"This dramatically lowers academic standards," said Mohsin Ali, president of the Karachi University Teachers' Society. "The federal Higher Education Commission requires a Ph.D. for university teaching positions. How can someone without a doctorate lead an entire institution?"

The strike, which began January 16, has affected an estimated 200,000 students across 17 universities in Sindh. Normally bustling campuses like the University of Karachi have fallen silent as classes remain suspended.

Faculty leaders say the provincial government has yet to engage in dialogue despite multiple protests, including demonstrations at the Karachi Press Club. They warn of escalating actions if their concerns go unaddressed.

Institutional independence threatened

While education oversight shifted to provincial control following 2010's 18th Constitutional Amendment, other provinces have maintained stricter academic requirements for university leadership.

Critics point out that the proposed changes would break from the original 1972 Universities Act, established under Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, which emphasized institutional independence.

"Bhutto never interfered with university affairs this way," said Moiz Khan, general secretary of the Karachi University Teachers' Society. "His vision was for universities to remain autonomous."

*With reporting from Faisal Khan