Karachi: Chairman, Action Committee for Karachi University Medical College, Shamoon Noushad on Thursday said hindrance in the establishment of medical college and hospital in Karachi University, and disaffiliation of private medical colleges is a preplanned effort to destroy a national institution like KU.
This was stated during a press conference organized by the Action committee for Karachi University Medical College at Karachi Press Club. General Secretary, Huzaifa Sarfaraz, Joint Secretary, Zeeshan Ahmed and Mahnoor were also present on this occasion.
Shamoon said “It has come to our notice through very reliable sources that the Chancellor of Karachi University has ordered the Vice-Chancellor KU to stop the establishment of Medical College and hospital at KU. It has also been ordered to cancel the affiliation of private medical colleges of Karachi to University of Karachi. This decision is creating a lot of confusion for students of medical and dental colleges currently affiliated to KU.”
He said that KU students strongly feel some people in the city are trying to destroy the University and they are acting to damage the oldest institution of Karachi by suffocating it and attempting to inhibit its progress. He said it‘s unfortunate that the Government of Sindh is not being able to release funding of University, and the cartel of co-called private universities have united to act against KU.
He further stated that unfortunately, the Chancellor of KU and Governor Sindh are also acting on the behalf and in favor of private university/college owners instead of supporting the oldest University in Karachi. He said that the owners of private universities are attempting to hinder proper functioning of this public sector university. He added that this is being done for the benefit of private medical college/university owners who are competing with a public university and its affiliated public medical colleges in Karachi.
Shamoon Noushad said students of KU believe that the University administration should open a medical college along with a 600-bed hospital for the deserving and needy citizens. He said no medical college or university has facilities comparable to KU, and that majority of these private colleges lack proper faculty and buildings.
According to Shamoon Noushad, private universities owners used Governor Sindh to stop the construction of hospital and college in the University of Karachi.
He said KU is equipped with all facilities which are necessary for the establishment of a medical college; these include departments such as Pharmacy, Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Clinical Psychology, Pathology, Virology, Health & Physical Education among several others. He added that the University has five major research institutes and the biggest scientific center. No other university and college are involved in this level of research because they are only making money from medical students.
He said there are 20 medical colleges and seven new private medical colleges will be established later this year; unfortunately out of these 27 only four medical colleges belong to the public sector.
He implored the Chief Minister Sindh to take notice of this situation, and to allow KU to open proposed medical college along with a 600-bed hospital. He urged the CM to cancel directives of Governor Sindh issued in this regard. He also requested the industrialists, citizens and prominent personalities like Abdul Sattar Edhi, Deputy Speaker Sindh and Faisal Sabzwari to come forward for the construction of free 600-bed hospital in the premises of KU because the owners of private hospitals are only interested in making money instead of providing services to deserving patients who cannot afford treatment.
He said that the Action Committee for Karachi University Medical College will stage protests and demonstrations, and will approach Court if these decisions are not withdrawn in the coming days.