KARACHI: Karachi University (KU) land continues to be occupied by private parties despite the withdrawal of the no-objection certificate (NOC) for a petrol pump, officials said on Tuesday. The university has yet to regain possession of the site pending the conclusion of ongoing litigation in its favour.
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The issue came to light last year when KU announced legal action against individuals attempting to illegally occupy its land. A professional law firm was engaged to handle the matter, but construction of the petrol pump continued and is now ready for inauguration.
Last week, KU wrote to the Universities and Boards Department and other relevant authorities seeking intervention. The department subsequently contacted the district administration, which issued a letter on January 19 directing the East deputy commissioner to act against the encroachment.
Following this, the city administration cancelled the NOC for the petrol pump. The East deputy commissioner’s letter, addressed to the Zonal Manager of Pakistan State Oil, stated that the NOC for M/S Hafiz Petrol Pump at Plot 01, Sector 22, Scheme 33, Karachi East, “is hereby cancelled and withdrawn.”
Despite this, KU has not regained control of the land, pending legal proceedings. University officials said they are pursuing the matter through courts and other forums to establish ownership and reclaim the occupied sites. Letters have also been sent to the Board of Revenue and other authorities for verification of land documents and determination of legal status.
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The slow pace of action drew criticism from university employees. Kazim Javed, general secretary of the Neutral Employees Group at KU, questioned why construction was allowed to proceed under official oversight. Another KU official said government authorities had not treated the matter seriously, warning that illegal occupations would persist without strict provincial enforcement.