Islamabad - The Pharmacy Department students of Quaid-i-Azam University on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration on non-recognition of the department by Pharmacy Council of Pakistan.

Dozens of students carrying placards arrived outside press club and demanded immediate accreditation of their department by the council. The council’s refusal to recognise the students’ degrees has become an obstacle for the graduates gaining employment.

“We want justice, we want recognition,” students protested.

The recognition of QAU Pharmacy department has been a picture of uncertainty since 2011. However, the students are compelled to pay the price now as their future has been put on stake.

Talking to The Nation, a student of Pharmacy-D program Mohammad Shakeel said that students have become battlefield between university administration and PCP.

“Both departments are accusing each other of violation of rules and wasting the students’ time in the process,” he said.

Another student Asma Khan informed The Nation that students of first two batches of Pharmacy-D program are being victimized and forced to come on roads for the registration of their degrees.

“We cannot apply for government jobs or start our own business without recognition,” she said.

The application for government jobs also require an age limit and hundreds of students could not apply for any post since the last three years because that requires registration of degree with PCP.

“PCP and University are responsible for this negligence,” she said.

Students also said that Federal Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar had assured them of resolving the issue and ending their grievances but had taken no practical measures up till now.

Students vowed to continue their protest till registration of their degrees.

PCP had offered two years conditioned registration of the Pharmacy Department to university after a number of negotiations were held between the two sides.

PCP for the registration of first two batches of the department has imposed fee penalty of Rs280000 and pre-registration test of the students.

The QAU administration despite a number of protests by students has still not recognized Law and Pharmacy department with relevant forums. 

Students and parents have complained about the non-recognition of the program despite the university charging thousands of rupees every semester.

Vice Chancellor QAU Prof Dr. Javed Ashraf said that administration has negotiated with PCP for the recognition of the department and the matter will be resolved soon.

He said the university has fulfilled the requirement of hiring faculty and is constructing the building while the issue of fee penalty and pre-registration test will be also addressed.