or thousands of scholars travelling to Lahore from remote places, a university hostel is more than mere lodging; it serves as a second home, a quiet study space and an essential support system during their time away from family. Recognising this, varsity officials are working to upgrade management practices, tighten security and improve overall hostel operations.

Ali Hamza Kasuri, a journalism student, says that one of the most pressing issues facing students is the mandatory three-month shutdown of hostels during summer break.

“Students are charged hostel fees for the entire year, yet the facilities are locked up during the summer vacation,” he says.

Kasuri says that the seasonal closure severely affects many residents, particularly those hailing from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who cannot afford the high travel costs.

“Many of these students are completing required internships. Others have off-campus jobs to support themselves,” he says.

Kasuri says the administration should refund the three-month fee to affected students.

This scribe spoke with several hostel residents who were forced to seek private off-campus housing during the summer shutdown. The conversations revealed logistical hardships, financial strain and health issues resulting from staying in unregulated private facilities.

unjab University spokesperson Dr Khurrum Shahzad says that the university operates 28 hostels — divided equally between male and female students. These provide accommodation to roughly 7,500 scholars.

Dr Shahzad says the varsity has taken proactive measures to address the surging demand for housing, particularly among female students.

“We have a substantial waiting list of female applicants seeking university housing,” he states. “To accommodate them, the university recently converted a male hostel into a dedicated female residential facility.”

“Between 2,000 and 2,500 illegal occupants have been evicted,” he says.

Dr Shahzad asserts that the latest operation aligns with previous administrative efforts. He says that reclaiming the hostel rooms directly translates into accommodation being available for regular, deserving students on merit.

He says that removing unauthorised occupants has significantly streamlined the management of hostels. He also highlights a major drop in the operational costs as a direct result of the cleanup.

To ensure long-term security, the administration is rolling out a biometric access system — currently operational in one hostel — which Dr Shahzad expects will curtail unauthorised entry, enhance student safety and drastically reduce campus theft.

Ahsan Raza is the editor of an English daily. He can be reached at [email protected]