A ransom (bhatta) from private colleges

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal Dir has levied 25 % annual tax on 65 private colleges in Chitral district. The affiliated colleges say this is ransom money or Bhatta in local terminology. As a matter of fact, 7.5 % contribution was levied at the time of affiliation and it was believed that SBBU will have a senate, a syndicate, an academic council where affiliated colleges will have representation. On the contrary, SBBU has yet to complete its statutory bodies. It has yet to accommodate the representatives of affiliated colleges in these bodies. It has yet to abide by the rules of HEC for quality enhancement. It has yet to start inspection of affiliated colleges. It has yet to have regular faculty members through selection board. Its first priority is in fact 10 times increase in ransom money to fleece affiliated colleges. It is so pity that the university is torturing students and teachers of Chitral district through various means. It is high time that Chancellor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan may kindly look into the matter and withdraw the condition of NOC, so that colleges of Chitral district can go for affiliation with Peshawar University, Malakand University or with the University of Swat. The chairman of HEC may kindly make it sure that SBBU management runs the University affairs in accordance with HEC rules and regulations. It is pertinent to note that affiliation of the colleges of Chitral with another University will not affect the functioning of SBBU because two larger district Dir Bala and Dir Payeen with a population of one million souls are enough to run SBBU with larger number of students. Affiliation with another university will release the tension and difficulties of teachers and students of Chitral. Dr. Inayatullah Faizi (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) Senior Consultant Alternative Solutions for Development, Chitral.]]>