LARKANA: Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Larkana Campus has ceased the provision of free transportation to students. The free transport program was initiated by Benazir Bhutto eight years ago. The institution’s management has asked students coming from Naudero to pay transportation charges amounting to Rs 2,600 per month. SZABIST uses two vans which carry 60 students to Larkana from Naudero and another which is used to transport students attending the institution’s evening shift. According to students, the change in policy was announced very abruptly which has added to their financial worries as many of them could hardly afford the university’s tuition fee. SZABIST charges students Rs 56,000 per month on average. Many of the student’s parents said that they would have to withdraw their children from SZABIST if the free transportation facility is discontinued as they simply could not afford the additional cost of paying for their children’s transport. Published in Daily Times, September 22nd 2017.