Call to Action: PM Shehbaz Urged to Save University Funding
News Desk
Islamabad: “We urge you [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif] to take immediate notice of the decision by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to halt federal funding to universities starting in the fiscal year 2024–2025, and intervene to ensure the continuity of funding for public-sector universities through the Higher Education Commission (HEC).”
As you [Prime Minister] are aware, universities across Pakistan rely on HEC funding, essential for their day-to-day operations, including salaries, pensions, and infrastructure development.
We are writing to you [Prime Minister] on behalf of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) regarding a critical issue affecting the academic community of our nation, states the APEX Committee letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday.
The decision, proposed by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, aims to halt federal funding to universities starting in the fiscal year 2024–2025, transferring the entire responsibility to provincial governments.
This decision, if implemented, would have severe repercussions on the financial stability of our universities, many of which are already grappling with significant budgetary challenges.
It is imperative to highlight the fact that universities play a pivotal role in driving economic development.
Therefore, any reduction in funding for these institutions would jeopardize their functioning and also hinder Pakistan’s progress toward achieving sustainable economic growth.
Furthermore, we would like to draw your attention to the decisions taken by constitutional bodies such as the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and the Council of Common Interest (CCI), which have affirmed the federal government’s responsibility for funding higher education until the next NFC award.
Despite an increase in the number of new universities and sub-campuses throughout the country, the budget allocated for higher education has remained stagnant for the past six years (Rs65 billion). Coupled with the fast-growing inflation rate, universities are facing serious financial issues, even unable to pay monthly salaries and pensions, hampering their ability to provide quality education and conduct meaningful research.
FAPUASA has repeatedly petitioned the government and political parties to allocate 5 percent of GDP for the education sector and 2 percent of GDP for higher educational institutions as practiced in developed countries even in the neighboring countries, which was eventually incorporated by mainstream political parties such as PML-N and PPP with some variations.
However, FAPUASA continues to campaign for a substantial increase in the higher education budget, urging the government to allocate at least 500 billion rupees.
Therefore, we respectfully request the Prime Minister to enhance the budget for universities in the upcoming federal government budget to ensure the sustainability and growth of higher education in Pakistan.
Without sufficient funding, universities will struggle to meet their academic and research requirements, ultimately hindering Pakistan’s advancement in various fields.
We trust and hope that you will give due consideration to our concerns and take decisive action to safeguard the future of higher education in Pakistan. Your support in this matter is crucial for the prosperity and development of our nation.
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