University of Karachi

The University of Karachi (Urdu: جامعہ كراچى ) (or KU) is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country.^[2] In 2008 the university entered the THE-QS World University Rankings for the top 500 universities in the world.

University of Karachi

Ku_University of Karachi

History

The University of Karachi was established through parliament as a Federal University in 1951. In 1962 its status was redefined as a university of the province of Sindh. On 23 October 1950 the Karachi University Act was passed and after an amendment in 1951 it was enacted. For the first two years, the University of Karachi remained as an examination University for the affiliated colleges.^[4]

In 1953 it started its teaching and research activities at two faculties of Arts and Science. Opened with an intake of 50 students, the university now has 53 Departments and 20 Research Centers and Institutes, under faculties of Arts, Science, Islamic Studies, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Management and Administrative Sciences and Medicine. The enrolment of regular students at the campus is around 28,000. There are about 1000 faculty members and more than 3000 supporting staff. On 18 January 1960 the university was shifted to the new campus on a plot of 1,279 acres (5.18 km²) located on the Country Club Road (now University Road)^[5], under the vice-chancellorship of Prof. Dr. Basheer Ahmad Hashmi, 23 June 1957 – 22 June 1961.

University Library

The Dr. Mahmud Hussain Library is a three-storey structure, established in 1952. The library was in another building before moving to the present building. The library houses 350,000 volumes, some of them dating back to the 17th century. The library is home to the personal book collection of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.^[6]

Teachers from over 100 affiliated colleges frequent the university, along with scholars from 19 research institutions. A loan and resource sharing system exists with other academic entities in the Karachi area. A digital library enables the scholars and students to access online books and journals. 25 librarians, 10 assistant librarians, and around 90 nonprofessional staff help maintain the library. The building includes six reading rooms for general purposes and six for research.^[7]

Karachi University Press

Karachi University Press publishes university books and other materials.^{[citation needed]}

Faculties

^[8]

• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Islamic Studies
• Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Engineering

Departments of University of Karachi

The University of Karachi departments include:

Research institutes and centres

[edit] Affiliated colleges

[edit] Former vice chancellors

• Prof. A. B. A. Haleem, 23 June 1951 – 22 June 1957
• Prof. Dr. Basheer Ahmad Hashmi, 23 June 1957 – 22 June 1961
• Prof. Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, 23 June 1961 – 2 August 1971
• Prof. Dr. Mahmud Hussain, 3 August 1971 – 9 April 1975
• Prof. Dr. Saleemuzzaman Siddiqui (Acting), 10 April 1975 – 16 January 1976
• Prof. Dr. Ehsan Rasheed, 7 January 1976 – 31 August 1979
• Prof. Dr. S. Masum Ali Tirmizi, 1 September 1979 – 31 August 1983
• Prof. Dr. Jameel Jalibi, 1 September 1983 – 31 August 1987
• Prof. Dr. Manzoor uddin Ahmad, 1 September 1987 – 7 July 1990
• Prof. Dr. S. Irtafaq Ali, 8 July 1990 – 6 July 1994
• Prof. Dr. Abd-ul-Wahab (Acting), 6 July 1994 – 4 April 1995
• Prof. Dr. Abd-ul-Wahab, 5 April 1995 – 9 November 1996
• Prof. Dr. Hafeez A. Pasha, 10 November 1996 – 24 July 1997
• Prof. Dr. Zafar H. Zaidi, 25 July 1997 – 7 January 2001
• Prof. Dr. Zafar Saeed Saify (Acting), 12 January 2001 – 28 February 2001
• Prof. Dr. Zafar Saeed Saify, 1 March 2001 – 5 January 2004
• Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, 6 January 2004–present