The Karakoram International University (KIU) Syndicate has decided to shut down its sub-campuses in Chilas, Ghizer, and Hunza due to severe financial constraints, jeopardizing the future of 1,500 students and over 100 staff members.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting chaired by KIU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Attaullah Shah. The university is grappling with a Rs300 million shortfall, which has now increased by an additional Rs200 million due to the federal government’s salary hike decision. The combined deficits of KIU and the University of Baltistan (UoBS) now stand at Rs500 million and Rs150 million, respectively.
Dr. Shah expressed deep concern over the lack of financial support from the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government and the federal government’s reluctance to increase funding through the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He noted that other provincial governments have provided significant grants to their universities, whereas the G-B government has refused to grant any financial aid to KIU.
This refusal endangers the future of approximately 14,000 students at both universities. Dr. Shah also highlighted that there has been no increase in university grants from the HEC this fiscal year, meaning the financial burden will fall on students and their families through increased fees.
Last year, an attempt to raise fees led to significant student protests, resulting in the blockade of the Karakoram Highway. The G-B chief minister intervened and assured that the government would cover half of the deficit, but only Rs50 million was provided as a loan, later converted into a grant. The promised Rs200 million was never fulfilled.
This fiscal year, the university expected a Rs300-400 million grant from the provincial government, but the finance bill did not include such a grant. During a recent visit to KIU, GB Chief Secretary Abrar Mirza assured full cooperation, but decisions made in the GB Education Reforms Steering Committee meeting were discouraging, including the refusal of financial assistance.
To address the Rs300 million deficit, the KIU Syndicate decided to increase student fees by 25 percent. Syndicate members appealed to parents and students to bear this additional burden, as no financial support has been forthcoming from provincial or federal governments.
The meeting also discussed the unfulfilled promise by the GB chief minister to transfer the board’s operations to KIU on an autonomous model. The retraction of this promise has added to the university’s financial strain. The KIU Syndicate decided to lay off 72 board employees after the operations were transferred back to the federal board without consultation, worsening KIU’s financial challenges.
The meeting appealed to GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, Chief Secretary Abrar Mirza, Force Commander Gilgit-Baltistan Maj-Gen Kashif Khalil, and other relevant authorities to safeguard the future of 15,000 students in the region.
In the absence of grants, KIU faculty has decided to boycott classes after the Eid holidays. The KIU vice-chancellor urged faculty and staff to reconsider their decision in light of the region’s sensitive situation to prevent a scenario similar to that in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
