The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has prohibited students from wearing shirts and jeans, as the varsity enforced a dress code to maintain the “dignity and sanctity” of the institution.

“Students and staff of the university are required to wear decent dress keeping in view the local cultural and religious values,” according to the circular. It was issued on August 29 but surfaced on Tuesday.

This is the second such official handout in the recent past.

Last month, the Government College University in Lahore introduced a new dress code policy. The policy encourages “more modest attire by prohibiting male and female students from wearing t-shirts and jeans on campus.”

The GCU notification also warned that non-compliance with the new dress code policy would be “dealt with strictly” by the university.

The UAJK clarified that the dress restriction was not to impose any rigidity or regimentation but was in “accordance with the spirit of discipline, punctuality, and religious matter.”

It went on to add that the dress code promotes a “positive image” of the university and also allow maximum flexibility to maintain “good morale, respect, cultural/religious values, and due consideration for safety while staying at all campuses.”

All the female students are required to wear shalwar qameez and dupatta or gown while all the male students are required to wear “decent dress”, which according to the university are dress pent and colour shirts or shalwar qameez.

To abide by the student dress code, students should not wear the following dresses

• Tight or see-through dress

• Shorts or sleeveless shirts

• T-shirts/dress bearing language or art, which “appears to be provocative or indecent and is likely to offend others”

• Torn clothing

• Jogging or exercise clothing during classes

• Do not put up excessive makeup or wear expensive jewellery

• Untidy, gaudy or immodest dress in classrooms, cafeterias and university offices

• Unprofessional attire in formal programmes and interviews

• Draw unnecessary attention to themselves through their clothing, accessories, hairstyles, body markings or piercings

• Explicit dresses

• Sunglasses are permitted but must be removed when indoors

• Hair must be clean and its style should not draw unnecessary attention. Long hair must be tied back

• Bare feet are not permitted

The UAJK has advised students to “strictly” follow the new rules and a disciplinary action would be taken against violators.