QAU Bans Gifts, Meals and Hospitality for Staff by Students
University introduces strict transparency policy, prohibiting staff from accepting gifts, sweets or meals and banning departments from charging students for refreshments during seminars and vivas.
ISLAMABAD: Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) has introduced a strict policy prohibiting its officers and employees from accepting or demanding sweets, gifts, meals or any other form of hospitality from students during academic and administrative processes.
According to an official notification issued by the Registrar’s Office, university staff are no longer allowed to request or accept gifts or hospitality while processing degrees, certificates, clearance documents or any other official matters. The order also prohibits officers and employees from exerting any moral or financial pressure on students during administrative procedures.
Ban on Gifts and Hospitality During Academic Activities
The university has also imposed a complete ban on charging BS, MPhil and PhD students for tea, refreshments, lunch or dinner during seminars, viva examinations and thesis presentations.
Students are not permitted to:
- Offer gifts to teachers.
- Offer food to teachers.
- Offer gifts to external examiners.
- Offer food to external examiners.
- Offer gifts to evaluation committee members.
- Offer food to evaluation committee members.
The restriction applies even if such offers are made voluntarily.
Departmental Funds to Cover Refreshments
Under the new policy, if refreshments are required for an external examiner, the expenses will be covered through departmental funds rather than by students.
Merit and Transparency Emphasised
QAU said all administrative and academic matters will be handled strictly on merit and with complete transparency to ensure fair and equal treatment for every student.
The administration noted that the practice of demanding sweets, gifts or meals places unnecessary financial and social pressure on students and is inconsistent with the university’s commitment to professionalism, integrity and good governance.
Strict Action for Violations
The university has warned that any officer or employee found violating the policy will face strict disciplinary and departmental action.
All deans, heads of departments and administrative offices have been directed to ensure full implementation of the new instructions.
A complaint mechanism has also been established, allowing students and employees to report violations directly to the Registrar’s Office.
