Karachi University (KU) is grappling with a staggering financial challenge as over 16,506 students from various programs, including morning, evening, and Executive MBA (EMBA) courses, have failed to pay their dues, totaling more than Rs. 2.1 billion between 2020 and 2024.

Breakdown of Outstanding Dues

During a meeting led by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, officials revealed that out of 22,575 fee vouchers issued to morning program students, only 13,205 students had cleared their dues. This left a significant gap of Rs. 991.54 million unpaid. Similarly, evening program students contributed Rs. 1,049.84 million to the pending amount, with only 26.84% of fees collected.

The EMBA program also added to this challenge, as only 40.08% of the total Rs. 100.30 million in fees was recovered. Across all programs, KU generated 36,767 fee vouchers, but payments were received for just 20,261 vouchers, reflecting an overall collection rate of 36.39%.

Proposed Actions to Address the Crisis

Meeting participants expressed serious concerns about the financial strain caused by unpaid dues and proposed several measures, including withholding admit cards and canceling the enrollments of defaulters. It was also suggested that degrees of pass-out students who remain defaulters might be withheld until payments are made.

A Yearly Analysis of Fee Collection

A closer look at yearly trends highlights the growing challenge. In 2024, 60.10% of evening students cleared their dues, while the figure dropped significantly to 39% in 2021. This downward trend underscores the need for stricter enforcement policies.

Even former students contribute to the issue, as 46.36% of pass-outs have yet to clear their dues. KU’s administration has given repeated opportunities to defaulters to pay, but non-compliance has left the institution with limited options.