Teachers Protest at Federal Urdu University in Karachi
On October 23, teachers at the Federal Urdu University of Arts Science and Technology (FUAST) in Karachi staged a protest due to unpaid salaries and increments. The protest took place at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Science campus, where teachers locked the administration block, preventing Vice Chancellor Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari from entering his office. The protest was sparked by the non-payment of salaries and increments to teachers at the Karachi campus, while employees in Islamabad received theirs.
Despite police intervention, the administration block remained locked until 1:30 pm. The teachers have appealed to the Federal Minister for Education for a resolution. They demand payment of three months’ pension, seven months’ house allowance, and two months’ salary with increments for retired employees. The protest will continue until these demands are met.
Background
The Federal Urdu University of Arts Science and Technology is based in Islamabad, with a secondary campus in Karachi. The protest arose from a broken promise by the Vice Chancellor to increase salaries, leading to financial and mental stress for the teachers.
Doubts Revealed
Federal Urdu University -: Federal Urdu University is a university in Pakistan where the main language of instruction is Urdu. It has campuses in different cities, including Karachi and Islamabad.
Karachi -: Karachi is a large city in Pakistan. It is one of the biggest cities in the country and is located by the Arabian Sea.
Vice Chancellor -: A Vice Chancellor is like the head or principal of a university. They are responsible for making important decisions about how the university is run.
Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari -: Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal Urdu University. He is the person in charge of the university’s administration.
Pensions -: Pensions are money that people receive after they retire from their jobs. It is like a salary for people who have stopped working because they are old.
House allowances -: House allowances are extra money given to employees to help them pay for their housing. It is part of their salary package.
Increments -: Increments are increases in salary. They are usually given to employees as a reward for their hard work or after a certain period of time.
