Govt agrees to release funds to varsities for raise
HEC Chairman Dr Javed Leghari in a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. —Online photo
ISLAMABAD: The government agreed on Thursday to immediately release funds for a 65 per cent increase in the salary of university teachers and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) requested the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) to withdraw its call for an indefinite strike in state-run universities.
“The committee formed by the prime minister for the resolution of the budgetary crisis in the higher education sector has successfully resolved the issues under discussion. Fifty per cent salary increase and 15 per cent medical allowance will be paid to universities as additional recurring grant,” a handout said.
It said the government had also agreed that all foreign and local scholars would be funded till the completion of their studies, while all approved scholarships which were built within projects would be withheld till the improvement of the country’s financial health.
All projects or their components in advanced stages of completion will be funded.
However, no new contractual liabilities will be created until the situation improves.
The vice-chancellors praised the role of the prime minister, the cabinet and the HEC, appreciating the government’s commitment to higher education in difficult budgetary times, the statement said.
Talking to journalists, HEC Chairman Dr Javed Leghari said the government had agreed to make timely releases of Rs15.7 billion earmarked under the Public Sector Development Programme for universities.
He said the money for teachers’ salary would be released this month.
However, talking to Dawn, Fapuasa president Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar termed the government’s decision too little, too late. “The government has taken three months to understand our demand. That too has come after Fapuasa’s call for an unprecedented countrywide strike in public sector universities.”
The government itself had announced the raise for government employees, but unfortunately teachers were ignored and they were left with no option but to come on the roads, he said.
Dr Akhtar said the federation’s executive body would meet in the capital on Friday to decide its course of action after the government’s response. He said the higher education sector was in a shambles because of frequent cuts and delayed releases in the development and recurring budgets of the HEC.
Last year, the government committed Rs22.5 billion for development, but could release only Rs11.5 billion. This year, Rs15.7 billion had been allocated, but the federation was not sure if the whole amount would be released, Dr Akhtar said.
He said the teachers would see what assurance they needed from the government.
“The committee formed by the prime minister for the resolution of the budgetary crisis in the higher education sector has successfully resolved the issues under discussion. Fifty per cent salary increase and 15 per cent medical allowance will be paid to universities as additional recurring grant,” a handout said.
It said the government had also agreed that all foreign and local scholars would be funded till the completion of their studies, while all approved scholarships which were built within projects would be withheld till the improvement of the country’s financial health.
All projects or their components in advanced stages of completion will be funded.
However, no new contractual liabilities will be created until the situation improves.
The vice-chancellors praised the role of the prime minister, the cabinet and the HEC, appreciating the government’s commitment to higher education in difficult budgetary times, the statement said.
Talking to journalists, HEC Chairman Dr Javed Leghari said the government had agreed to make timely releases of Rs15.7 billion earmarked under the Public Sector Development Programme for universities.
He said the money for teachers’ salary would be released this month.
However, talking to Dawn, Fapuasa president Dr Mahr Saeed Akhtar termed the government’s decision too little, too late. “The government has taken three months to understand our demand. That too has come after Fapuasa’s call for an unprecedented countrywide strike in public sector universities.”
The government itself had announced the raise for government employees, but unfortunately teachers were ignored and they were left with no option but to come on the roads, he said.
Dr Akhtar said the federation’s executive body would meet in the capital on Friday to decide its course of action after the government’s response. He said the higher education sector was in a shambles because of frequent cuts and delayed releases in the development and recurring budgets of the HEC.
Last year, the government committed Rs22.5 billion for development, but could release only Rs11.5 billion. This year, Rs15.7 billion had been allocated, but the federation was not sure if the whole amount would be released, Dr Akhtar said.
He said the teachers would see what assurance they needed from the government.
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