KARACHI, Dec 8: Regular classes have not been held in the new Rs100 million building of the Umaer Basha Institute of Information Technology (UBIT) since its establishment in 2004, Dawn has learnt.

The building has now begun to develop cracks and plaster is coming off, while costly equipment purchased for the site is now in a state of disrepair.

UBIT, funded by the Karachi University, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the US-based Umaer Basha Foundation, was intended to replace the KU’s computer science department, which was set up in a boys hostel after its renovation in the 1990s.

The equipment for UBIT was purchased with funds from the Karachi University Institute of Information Technology Trust.

Interestingly, the foundation stone for UBIT was laid twice – once by Dr Ata-ur-Rehman, then chief of the HEC, and later by former president Pervez Musharraf, when the project site was changed.

While UBIT’s name was officially adopted by the university syndicate through a resolution in 1999, many teachers are of the opinion that since the university is the major financier, it would be more appropriate to name it the “KU Institute of Information Technology”.

The institute is currently administered by a board of governors, headed by the KU vice chancellor himself.

Apart from the substandard construction of the building, which fuels speculation about alleged malpractice in the award of the building contract, there is also resentment amongst students about the continuing delay in shifting them to the new building.

“The students of the computer science department pay the highest amount to the university in terms of fees, but are deprived of basic training facilities. We have been hearing for four years that classes will be shifted to the new building soon, but nothing of the sort has happened so far,” a student complained.

Other students told Dawn that classes were held at UBIT for two days in March this year, but the process was then suspended for unknown reasons.

“We are worried because our training is suffering,” said one student. “At the old building, each student is sharing a computer with two others. Also, the internet is only available in one lab. The building has been an ad-hoc arrangement for years, and is completely inadequate to meet our educational needs.”

The long delay in holding regular classes at UBIT’s new building has begun to have an effect on the equipment bought for the facility. A teacher told Dawn that the warranty period for the gas-fired generator and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system expired last year. He also noted that only a few computers, of the 224 installed at the site, have even been used once.

“This is a sheer waste of resources. The power cords of many computers have been stolen, while the antivirus licence that came with the computer system has also expired. The new generator malfunctioned some time ago and has stopped working. Termites are eating away at the doors and the wooden flooring of the server room,” he said.

‘UBIT is functional’

However, Professor Dr S.M. Aqil Burney, chairman of the department of computer science and project director of UBIT, rejected outright students’ complaints, saying that the institute is functional.

“The institute has been functional from January this year. Various seminars and workshops have been held in the institute while classes are held off and on. These days, the institute is being used as an examination centre. What we lack is a big computer networking system, which will be available by Dec 10.

“The delay took place because of a sudden change in the market prices of computer hardware. There will be gradual shifting [into the building], however, as labs for digital logic design, communication and network training will be ready. It’s easy to erect a building, but it takes time to set up the required infrastructure, especially for an IT institute.”

Dr Burney claims that the building was constructed in 2006 and that the computers and furniture was only bought two months ago. He also maintains that the old building has all the required facilities, including the internet.

“This is a baseless allegation. Internet facility is available to all students. Another reason behind the slow shifting is that students, most of whom are immature, should learn how to behave in a sophisticated environment,” he said, adding that there was a slight increase in the fee structure since the formation of the computer science department.

About the ‘substandard’ construction, he asserted that there were no cracks in the building and it was just showing “weather effect”. “Actually, it just needs to have water-proofing,” he said. “We are maintaining the building to the best of our abilities.”