147 public sector universities with 88 campuses are mostly dependent upon the federal government for release of required funds
From Correspondent
Islamabad
Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) announcing the protest demonstrations across the country, has strongly demanded from the central and all provincial governments to increase budget for public sector universities and higher education commission across the country in the new annual budget 2023-2024.
Association’s President Prof. Dr. Kaleemullah Bareech, Vice President Prof. Dr. Farrukh Arsalan, General Secretary Prof. Dr. Akhtiar Ali Ghumro and members of the Central Executive Council Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmed (Agriculture), Dr. Mian Abdul Mubeen (Engineering) and cabinet members of all provincial chapters in a joint statement issued on Sunday May 14, 2023, demanded the Federal government to allocate 500 billion rupees in the recurring budget for the Higher Education Commission and 200 billion rupees in the development budget.
They also demanded from the provincial governments to increase the grants in aid of the universities of their respective provinces.
They regretted that despite high inflation rate i.e., 38%, during last five years, the budget for Higher Education sector across remained stagnant. The higher education sector has to face budgetary cuts and delay in payments which resulted in non-payment of salaries to the universities’ staff.
“There was no option for the teachers and employees of the universities except to protest. Higher education sector is facing crises like situation across the country.”
“In the light of decision of Council of Common Interest, 147 public sector universities with 88 campuses are mostly dependent upon the federal government for release of required funds till announcement of next NFC award. But the higher education sector especially public sector universities have been ignored. They said in their statement that all the developed countries of the world allocate at least 5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and neighboring countries up to 4 percent of their GDP for the education sector, while Pakistan allocates barely 2 percent of its GDP for the education sector, there can be no development and prosperity with this very low budgetary allocation for education,” statement said
It said, all the chapters of FAPUASA and the academic staff associations of all the universities are requested to organize demonstrations and budget seminars for the increase in the budget of the universities together with the officers and employees association in the universities so that to create awareness and convince the central and provincial governments to increase the budget.
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Meanwhile, Dr. Fahad Nazir Khoso, President, and Dr. Baqir Ali Zardari, General Secretary, Sindh Chapter of FAPUASA, in a joint statement on Sunday condemned the victimizing and harassing tactics of BBS University Lyari administration, which according to them disrespected an elected President (Dr. GM Lahbar) of of the BBS University Lyari Teachers’ Association, by issuing him explanation letter just because he recorded a video of a prohibited movie being screened officially in auditorium. They demanded immediate withdrawal of explanation and otherwise warned of strong reaction across the province against the university administration.
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