Inam Tarin, chairman of the Pakhtun Students Council at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, said hostel and housing are fundamental student rights and urged the government to release funds for construction of new hostels. He spoke at a National Press Club Islamabad conference alongside the council’s vice presidents Dadullah and Fatima, stressing immediate action to resolve the university’s hostel crisis.
The council highlighted that more than 14,000 students are enrolled at Quaid-i-Azam University while only about 1,500 students can access on-campus hostel accommodation. The majority of students therefore live in informal settlements around the university, a situation the council says is unsustainable and unsafe.
On 8 January, the Capital Development Authority and university administration issued two-day notices to students to vacate and face demolition of off-campus housing. With annual examinations underway, students fear serious academic disruption and loss of preparation time if evictions proceed. The Pakhtun Students Council warned that the eviction notices exacerbate already severe housing anxiety among the student body.
The council called a protest and the university has been under strike for two days. While the vice chancellor has reportedly written to relevant authorities requesting funds for new hostels, no official response has been received. Student leaders say the absence of an alternative housing plan from the CDA and administration leaves students with no safe recourse.
Inam Tarin reiterated that the protest will continue until concrete steps are taken to address the hostel crisis and provide adequate residential facilities. He added that other student federations and organizations are prepared to join the strike, and appealed directly to the government to expedite funding and a durable solution for student housing.
