In yet another controversial move, Bahria University’s Islamabad Campus has banned mixed gatherings at the university cafeterias. Segregating male and female students seems to be the motive here and those breaching the code of conduct will face disciplinary action.
The administration has directed female students to avail cafeteria services from Dean’s Cafeteria located in Quaid Block while barring them from visiting other food outlets on the university premises.
It has also ordered male students to use separate cafeterias for the purpose, effectively separating both male and female students from further contact during recess.
Capital Café, Student Café and Daily Grind sections have been reserved for male students while restricting them from using the Dean’s Cafeteria.
The official notification with the subject line ‘Bifurcation of Cafeterias’ signed by Commander (R) Habib-ur-Rehman – Deputy Director Admin & Coordination – reads:
It has been directed by the competent Authority that all female students are to avail Dean’s Cafeteria situated in Quaid Block and all other food outlets are out of bound for them. Similarly, all male students are to avail Capital Café, Student Café and Daily Grind and Dean’s Café is out of bound for them.
This is not the first time Bahria University administration has come under criticism. Last month, the university issued a notification directing opposite gender students to maintain a 6-inch distance which sparked outrage over social media and students as well.
The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association had ordered the university administration to withdraw the six-inch rule.
A staff member at the university believes that the directive doesn’t make any sense, questioning that when everything is same for the two genders what’s wrong with having same cafeterias. He said:
By segregating males from females at university means that we failed to prepare our students to be responsible members of our society.
Labeling the notification as ‘bizarre’, he said that the students who are about to enter their professional careers don’t need such forceful limitations and that those coming up with these ideas should think before issuing anything.
Understandably, people have a lot to say about the latest move by Bahria University over social media:
What’s your opinion on the matter? Should boys and girls be allowed to sit together for meals and chit-chat sessions at the cafeterias or not? Let us know in the comments section.
