KU teachers oppose autonomous status for scientific research centre | The Express Tribune

Teachers at the University of Karachi have strongly opposed the Sindh government’s proposed bill seeking to grant autonomous status to the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences. They warned that the move would put the future of students, faculty and researchers at risk.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, KU faculty members said, the plan would undermine decades of academic investment and turn a premier public-sector research facility into an inaccessible space for middle-class students. They demanded that the bill be withdrawn and that all stakeholders be taken into confidence. The KU Teachers’ Society (KUTS) has also convened an emergency meeting to discuss its strategy.

KUTS President Ghufran Alam said, the bill was presented in the Sindh cabinet without consulting the university syndicate, senate, academic council or teachers’ bodies. “This non-transparent approach is deeply concerning. How can a government that claims to uphold democratic values try to separate an internationally recognised research centre based on the advice of only two individuals?” he asked.

He warned that separating ICCBS would affect students’ degrees, ongoing research, and the university’s long-term academic reputation. “ICCBS stands on KU land, resources and investment. Detaching it abruptly is unjust and unacceptable,” he said.

Alam added that claims about ICCBS being run on private funding were misleading. “The centre has long been funded by the federal and provincial HECs and its own revenue streams. A few donor contributions do not give anyone proprietary rights,” he said.

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KUTS has urged the Sindh chief minister and PPP leadership to halt the move and prevent the institution from falling under donor-driven control. It has also called for the bill to be withdrawn in full.

Meanwhile, Sindh Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Tariq Rafi supported the proposal, saying it is common worldwide for large universities to spin off independent institutes. “ICCBS is a major research hub. Granting it autonomy is not a problem in itself, though the final decision rests with the government,” he said. However, he added that any reservations should be heard and addressed.

ICCBS is considered one of Pakistan’s leading scientific research institutions and enjoys global recognition for its work in chemical and biological sciences. It has twice been awarded the Islamic Development Bank’s prize for excellence in science and technology.

More than 600 MPhil and PhD scholars have graduated from the centre, while 550 students are currently pursuing research degrees. ICCBS also provides scholarships—Rs30,000 per month for MPhil, and Rs70,000 per month for PhD scholars. Around 400 researchers are associated with the institute, including over 80 senior scientists. The facility houses a digital library, high-speed internet, online journals and extensive e-book collections.