TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of Islami Jamiat Tulaba activists and students of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), staged a protest demonstration and a sit-in outside the VC`s office on Monday against a 25 per cent increase in their fees.

Addressing protesters, their leaders demanded thatthe proposed25pefee increase for the spring semester of 2023 be withdrawn immediately and that there be no fee increases in future semesters during the ongoing degree programs.

They also demanded thatthe proposedincrease in tuition and hostel fees be frozen until the completion of the existing degree programmes.

They said that the condition of depositing earmarked funds to departmental or university societies for completing enroll-ment formalities should be abolished immediately, and a strict ban should be imposed on the process of forcibly collecting funds from students by student societies in order to increase financial aid and scholarships for lowincome and marginalised students.

They also demanded that in order to maintain transparency in the distribution and use of students` fees, the heads/items for which the fees are collected be clearly mentioned on the challan form for the upcoming semesters, and the student`s right to hold a peaceful protest and their democratic and constitutional right to express their concerns without fear of reprisal is protected.

They declared that the protest would continue until their demands were met. Correspondent