The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered the University of Karachi (KU) to end its decades-old Karachi-Sindh-Pakistan (KSP) admissions quota. The committee directed KU to implement an open-merit system based solely on Sindh domicile.
PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro chaired the meeting reviewing KU audit reports for 2021-2023. Sindh Higher Education Secretary Moeen Siddiqui, KU acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Haris Shoaib, and Registrar Dr. Imran Siddiqui attended.
Registrar Dr. Imran Ahmed confirmed that KU has followed the KSP quota since 1990. Only “one or two faculties” now use open merit. Khuhro said separating Karachi from Sindh is unjustified and pointed to NED University’s test-based merit system.
Karachi is part of Sindh. Students with Sindh domicile deserve admission purely on merit, Khuhro said. KU must review the KSP policy and submit a progress report at the next PAC meeting.
The committee also criticized KU for keeping the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Chair inactive despite Rs. 422 million spent. KU said additional funds were needed, and a PC-I has been submitted. PAC ordered the chair to be made functional immediately.
PAC highlighted losses at the Sindh Government Printing Presses. The Governor’s House press lost Rs281 million in 2022-2023 due to outsourcing by departments. Khuhro directed the Chief Secretary to route all official printing through government presses to recover revenue and prevent further losses.
The Khairpur press also reported Rs. 40 million in losses. PAC emphasized strict adherence to NOCs and centralized printing to boost efficiency.