H-8 college students fend for themselves at mealtime as canteen shut for second year

Islamabad:For more than a year, both students and staff members at Islamabad Model Postgraduate College, H-8 have been left without a working canteen-a core part of campus life.

Even though the issue is taking a toll on the students’ health and performance, the administration seems to have turned a blind eye. The canteen, traditionally a hub for social interaction and a source of nourishment, has long been considered an integral part of college life. However, its closure at H-8 college has significantly troubled students who come from remote areas and live in private hostels in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Many students, especially hostellers, leave early in the morning to reach college on time, often skipping breakfast. Without a campus canteen, they remain empty through long academic sessions, which affects their concentration and participation in classes. A BS student who lives in a Rawalpindi hostel shared his daily struggle.

“I leave hostel around 7am often without breakfast, but since there’s no canteen here, I feel hungry during my classes,” he said, criticising the administration for being “indifferent” to the students' basic needs. Echoing the issue, a girl student said in the morning haste to reach college, she often skipped breakfast and brought some dry snacks to eat during break, but it became difficult to eat them without tea or juice. She said she just drank water to prevent a dry throat.

"We need a proper, functioning canteen on campus." Students often leave college for nearby places like Allama Iqbal Open University during breaks for food or refreshments. The act not only wastes their academic time but also raises security and discipline concerns. A BS student highlighted the broader importance of a campus canteen.

“College life is demanding. We need short breaks to recharge. A canteen provides a perfect space to relax, interact, and return to studies with renewed energy. It’s also a place where students from diverse backgrounds come together and learn about each other’s cultures. Unfortunately, this essential facility is missing here,” he said.

The student insisted that canteens were not just about food; they contributed to social and cultural learning. "In a diverse city like Islamabad where students from across the country come to study, the canteen acts as a melting pot for traditions, stories and friendships,” he said. Faculty members also voiced concern about the missing eating place on campus.