The University of Karachi decided to shift all morning classes online from Monday, March 9 during the third month of Ramadan due to logistical concerns and a rise in fuel prices. The move was approved by Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi, who also issued a notice reducing vehicle petrol usage by up to 25 percent.
Additionally, students at NED University of Engineering and Technology have prepared contingency plans for holding online classes if required. Vice Chancellor Dr Tufail Ahmed reported that a meeting had been held with all arrangements in place; immediate implementation would be carried out in response to any government decisions. Currently, both morning and evening sessions are suspended due to Ramadan, but upon moving classes online, students will receive assignments.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has recently increased diesel and petrol prices by Rs55 per litre—marking the first of several significant price hikes following heightened tensions sparked by recent US-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran. This escalation led to retaliatory attacks from Iran against American military bases in Gulf countries, causing widespread disruption to oil supply chains.
As a result of this crisis, Pakistan faces considerable energy imports dependency and has only 28 days of fuel reserves left. The situation underscores the interconnectedness of global economies and regional conflicts’ far-reaching impacts on daily life.