The basketball and volleyball courts on Thursday have been set up at Sindh University’s Marvi Girls’ Hostel for the first time since the inception of the varsity in 1947 with a vision to keep the female students out of stress and healthy.
Sindh University Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro inaugurated the sports facilities provided in the girls’ dormitories. Director Institute of Biochemistry and Chairperson Anti-Harassment Committee Prof. Dr. Naseem Aslam Channa, Director Institute of Gender Studies Prof. Dr. Misbah Bibi Qureshi, Provost Girls Hostels Dr. Naheed Arain, Incharge Plantation & Beautification Dr. Nabila Shah Jilani, Director Sports (Girls) Maryam Keerio, Incharge Women Protection Cell Police Inspector Muffhra, Director Finance Syed Zainul Abidin Shah, Dr. Intizar Lashari, Jan Alam Solangi, Engineer Tanveer Gulfam, Shoaib Mohsin and others were also present on the occasion besides a huge number of hostlers.
After inaugurating the basketball and volleyball courts, the Vice-Chancellor encouraged the female students to take part in the games by playing volleyball and basketball with them.
Addressing the female students, SU VC acknowledged the efforts of the parents who chose Sindh University for the higher education of their children and said although their [Parents of girls] financial condition was good or bad, yet they had sent their daughters to the varsity for seeking higher education, which was a big and encouraging thing.
“The parents of the girls trusted SU administration and it is now our responsibility to take full care of them and we are doing so”, he said and added that 2,000 female students were living in Sindh University’s girls’ dormitories which he said was a big number in any university of the province.
He claimed that there was no other university in Sindh where the female students in such a big number were staying in the hostels. He stated that there were more female students than the designed capacity of hostels and all of them were being provided facilities.
Dr. Kalhoro said that just as parents had sent their daughters to stay in the hostels as a trust upon the varsity administration; it was looking after them in the same way.
“From the vice chancellor and professor to security guards and police, rangers and other law enforcement agencies to government missionaries, everyone is ensuring full safety and security of the female students living in the SU’s dormitories”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor further said that the number of female students living in hostels was much more than the designed capacity, which their parents were aware of, yet they wanted their children to stay in the official accommodation of the varsity for protection because the girls were safe and sound there.
He said that volleyball, basketball and other sports facilities were being provided in the hostels so that the hostlers could play the games of their choice whenever they had leisure time.
“This activity will keep the girls mentally and physically healthy and cause deep slumber at night without having any stress”, adding that after which they will be able to take their classes actively on the next day and read well.
He said if someone was harassed, she should report it immediately so that the issue might be stopped instead of its further escalation. “There is no need to be afraid of anyone; we all stand by the students”, Dr Kalhoro said.
He said that the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh on Science and Technology Tanzila Umm Habiba during her recent visit to Sindh University had promised to provide internet facility to the University of Sindh, after receiving the amenity it would also be provided to both Marvi Girls and Boys’ Hostels.
Earlier, a volleyball match was also played between the teams of Hayat Girls College Hyderabad and Marvi Girls Hostel, which was won by the team of Marvi Girls Hostel after an interesting contest.
Dr Kalhoro gave trophies to the teams. At the juncture, the girls gave a round of applause to both of the teams for their encouragement and supported them.
Later, the Vice-Chancellor also visited the shops available inside the Marvi Hostel and enquired about the prices of different commodities and directed the shopkeepers to sell the products with full concession as the varsity was not charging them market rates in terms of rent.
