The Sindh Assembly through a unanimously adopted resolution recommend to Sindh government to ensure that Karachi University establishes at least two campuses in Naushero Feroz and Tharparkar districts to impart higher education to the people of the rural parts of the province.
During Sindh Assembly's session, which held here with Speaker Nisar Khohro in chair, a PPP lawmaker Dr Ahmed Ali Shah forwarded an out of turn resolution on the private members' day despite MQM's legislators' protest. The MQM also objected to the text of the resolution, as Syed Sardar Ahmed said words like division between rural and urban Sindh was inappropriate and such words should be omitted from the motion. He said the debate on rural and urban Sindh would create a controversy.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed also remarked that such wordings had continued to disturb his party leadership and warned the urban dominated political party was being pushed against the wall. He refuted that the students coming from other parts of the province were being denied admissions in Karachi University. He said, "these words should be expunged from the assembly proceedings." In the meantime, the speaker urged the members to avoid provocative words during speeches.
However, Sindh Senior Education Minister Pir Mazhar said the mover of the resolution should bring a bill to amend the relevant Act, asking the universities to establish new campuses in other parts of the province. He said an amendment bill should be tabled in the assembly in this connection.
The mover - Dr Ahmed Ali Shah, said education was the fundamental right of every citizen of the country, saying there were no universities in Sanghar, Dadu, and Naushero Feroz districts of the province. He said Karachi University should set up at least two campuses in these districts. He said setting up of campuses would integrate the nation, besides it would encourage the people to learn higher education.
PPP's member Bachal Shah said the urban population of Sindh was increasing rapidly and opportunities of learning in Karachi for students of other parts were becoming dim, therefore, such campuses would help the people of far-flung areas learn easily. He said if Australian and UK universities could open their branches in Karachi then why Karachi University could not open it campuses in other parts of the province. He said the country needed more PhDs.