History of the University of Karachi
The history of the University of Karachi (KU) dates back to October 1950 when the university was established under the Karachi University Act passed in the Parliament of Pakistan. During the time of the independence of Pakistan, there were very few universities and educational institutions in the country and the overall quality of higher education was negligible. At the time of its inception, the University of Karachi was one of the first modern, prestigious institutes in Pakistan designed to cater to the country's growing needs and demand for higher learning and research - as well to meet the educational demands of Karachi, an ever growing mega city.
Today, the university is ranked among the top three universities of the country.[1] In 2008 the university entered the THE-QS World University Rankings for the top 500 universities in the world.[2] There are over 24,000 students currently enrolled at Karachi University; the university has grown to 57 departments under 7 faculties, 17 research institutes and has over 90 affiliated colleges (for more information, see List of institutes and colleges affiliated with University of Karachi). The university also conducts examinations of 150,000 students other than those at the campus.
Background
For the first two years, the University of Karachi remained as an examination University for the affiliated colleges.[3] In the first academic year only four departments were established. Of these were Philosophy, Geography, Mathematics, and zoology. The departments contained no more than one or two teachers.
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),[4] under the vice-chancellorship of Prof. Dr. Basheer Ahmad Hashmi, 23 June 1957 - 22 June 1961.
In 1953-54, the existing departments were expanded and new departments of General History, Islamic History, Political Science, Economics and Bengali in Arts and Physics, Chemistry and Botany in Science were opened (Naseeb: 1978)i. In short, during the time span of two years 13 new departments were established by adding 6 departments in Arts and 6 departments in Sciences. On 18 January 1960 University of Karachi got shifted in its present place measuring 2 square miles (5.2 km2) or 518 hectares on the Country Club road now known as University road. From 1965-71 Museums were established at the departments of Botany, Geology, Geography, and General History. Since then the University has started many new departments and research institutes.
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.
Campus
The university campus is spread over 1,279 acres (5.18 km2) of land, situated 12 km away from the city center of Karachi. About four percent of the university's students are foreigners who come from 23 different countries in regions as diverse as Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The university has a high standard of teaching, with many professors being well-known scholars and academics of international repute and possessing Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees from abroad.[5] In a short span of 40 years, the university has risen to acquire a high status in the field of education in Pakistan as well as regionally.
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