Upgradation of KMDC to university facing obstacles

KARACHI: The race to appoint the next principal of the Karachi Medical and Dental College (KMDC) has created hindrances in upgrading the institution to the status of a university.

According to details, Farhat Jafri and Nargis Anjum are making efforts to be appointed to the position of principal, while several other teachers of the institutions with similar qualifications and experience are resisting the move.

Well informed sources informed that Nargis Anjum has been lobbying for the post without approval from the KMDC University Board. Anjum along with several other teachers completed her PhD from the college, while there is no appointed doctoral supervisor at the educational institute.

Sources also informed that employees whose degrees and qualifications have been declared suspicious by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) are creating obstacles in the upgradation of the college to a university.

This risk losing their jobs even as faculty members after the upgradation. This is also affecting educational activities at the college. The HEC requires specialised qualifications as the principal of the institute which has placed the careers of several teachers at stake.

The college is currently under control of Local Government as an autonomous institution. The degrees are issued by the University of Karachi. The process to grant the college the status of a university was approved by former Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad.

President Arif Alvi has served as a faculty member of the college and has vowed to upgrade the college to a university. Mayor Karachi Waseem is also making efforts but various elements are creating obstacles in this regard to protect their personal interests.