KU approves hefty raises for evening programme staff.

KARACHI -- Despite claims that the institution faces serious financial crisis, the Karachi University (KU) administration has approved a hefty raise in the revised remuneration/allowances for its teaching and non-teaching staff of the evening programme with effect from January this year, it emerged on Thursday.

Surprisingly, vice chancellor Khalid Mahmood Iraqi himself is also among the beneficiaries.

A copy of the Jan 14 university notification shows revised hourly rates for the teaching staff: a meritorious professor (theory) earlier getting Rs1,800 would now get Rs2,400; professor (theory) earlier getting Rs1,450 would now get Rs2,100; associate professor earlier getting Rs1,300 would now get Rs1,800; assistant professor earlier getting Rs1,000 would now get Rs1,500 and a lecturer earlier getting Rs900 would now get Rs1,200.

Per month evening duty allowance for the non-teaching/administrative staff ranges from Rs8,000 and Rs16,000 according to their grades.

Allowances for the management staff per month are: the vice chancellor earlier getting Rs16,800 would now get Rs30,000; the director evening programme/registrar/director finance and dean (if his or her faculty runs an evening programme) earlier getting Rs9,600 would now get Rs20,000; department chairperson (if his or her department has an evening programme) earlier getting Rs8,400 would now get Rs16,000.

Speaking to Dawn on the condition of anonymity, a senior KU teacher questioned this decision at a time when the university was short of financial resources.

'The vice chancellor has given himself a 79 per cent raise along with other key administrative staff getting from 90pc to 108pc raise. Whereas teachers involved in academic activities...