KARACHI: Three leading universities in Sindh—University of Sindh, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), and Allah Bakhsh Soomro University of Art Design and Heritage—have extended their winter break closures due to disruptions in water supply.
Initially, the universities were announced to be closed for winter vacations from December 20, 2024, to January 12, 2025, but they remain shut down due to ongoing maintenance work on Feeder Bay, a major canal of the Indus River. This watercourse provides the above institutions with its phased restoration in progress, as per irrigation authorities.
In response to the crisis, the two Sindh University and Mehran University are commencing online classes from January 13, 2025, to ensure that there are no effects on the academic momentum. Allah Bakhsh Soomro University is likely to take the same step if the situation continues.
Assured by irrigation authorities, the whole effort sped up toward water supply restoration is but for the stakeholders. As soon as the problem is resolved, the universities return to their regular in-person activities.
This kind of extension is not a concern in a vacuum, but it demands that the resilience of the academic infrastructure be put to the test. Proactive maintenance strategies should be kept in the pipeline-drafting stage to avert such future occurrences.
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