Syed Wahaj Ahmed
As many as 8, 098 candidates appeared in the entry test held for the morning session in BS, B.Ed (H), B.E. programmes, and doctor of pharmacy (morning and evening program), and doctor of physical therapy of the University of Karachi (KU) on Sunday.
The KU conducted the entry test for the academic year 2024 in the departments of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Applied Physics, Biotechnology, Business Administration (BBA), B.E. Chemical Engineering, Commerce, Computer Science — (BSCS) and (BSSE) — Split 2 +2 Chinese, Criminology, Education, Environmental Studies, Food Science and Technology, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, International Relations, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Petroleum Technology, Special Education, Sports Business Management and B. Ed (H) Teacher Education, and Doctor of Physical Therapy (five-year program) and Doctor of Pharmacy (five-year program) in morning and evening shifts.
The KU in charge Directorate Admissions Committee Dr Saima Akhtar said the University of Karachi has received 8, 575 online admission forms for the entry test-based degree programme of which 8, 098 candidates appeared in the entry test for 1, 517 allocated seats in these departments and 22 examination centres across the campus were arranged for these candidates.
She said the 100-minute-long entry test started at 11:00 am and concluded at 12:40 pm. The initial list of the successful candidates will be uploaded by Dec 07, on the admission portal (www.uokadmission.edu.pk). The KU has conducted the entry test through its own assessment and testing service (KUATS).
Meanwhile, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, Registrar Prof Dr Abdul Waheed, Director Evening Prof Dr Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences Prof Dr Shaista Tabassum, Prof Dr Anila Amber Malik, Dr Saima Akhter, Students Advisor Dr Nosheen Raza, Campus Security Advisor Dr Salman Zubiar, Senior Medical Officer Dr Wafa Altaf and others were present on this occasion and monitored the admission test proceedings.
The staff of the KU Clinic along with an ambulance were also present during the test proceeding. The Watch and Ward and Directorate of Admissions staff were also present for the guidance of students and separate waiting areas near the examination classrooms were established for the parents and guardians of the candidates.
According to the KU website, the varsity spreads over 1,200 acres of land, University of Karachi was established through the parliament as a Federal University in 1951. However, through another act of the parliament in 1962 its status was redefined as university of the province of Sindh. On 23rd October, 1950 the Karachi University Act was passed and after an amendment in 1951, it was enacted and Prof A. B. A Haleem was appointed as its first Vice Chancellor. For the first two years, the University of Karachi remained as an examination University for the affiliated colleges. In the year 1953, it started its teaching and research activities at two Faculties of Arts and Science. Opened with an initial intake of 50 students, the university is now a sprawling structure of 53 Departments and 20 world class and highly reputable Research Centers and Institutes, under eight faculties of Arts, Science, Islamic Studies, Pharmacy, Management and Administrative Sciences, Law, Education and Medicine. At present, the enrolment of regular students at the Campus is slightly over 41,000 (Approximately) as on 30/06/2018. There are over 700 teachers and more than 2,100 supporting staff.
The University in the beginning was housed in small buildings adjacent to the Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, due to rapid expansion, it began to be felt that the space in which the university was functioning was not enough for its needs. Moreover, the atmosphere of the congested and polluted area was not conducive to higher education and research. Thus, a plot of 1,279 acres of land was acquired on the Country Club Road (now University Road) and on 18th January 1960 the university was shifted to the new campus. Thus began, a new phase in the life of the university. The day is still commemorated by various old students’ Association and the University administration jointly.
Karachi University always proudly mentions the names of renowned educationists and scholars associated with this institution of higher learning like, Dr. I. H. Qureshi, Dr. Mahmud Hussain, Dr. Salemuzzaman Siddiqui, Dr. Afzal Hussain Qadri, Dr. M. M. Ahmed, Dr Mujtaba Karim, Prof. M. Ilyas, Prof. Q. Fareed, Dr. Ibadur Rehman Khan, Prof Muntakhib ul Haq, Prof. Memony, Dr. S. M. Yousuf, Dr. M.A Wali and Dr. Karawala. The faculty was drawn not only from Pakistan but also included eminent educationists from Europe and America.
