FAPUASA Announces Protest Over Funding Denial

News Desk 

Islamabad: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has announced that May 30 (Thursday) will be observed as ‘Black Day’ nationwide.

The association will protest against the federal government’s refusal to allocate funds for universities in the provinces.

This decision follows an emergency meeting of the FAPUASA Executive Council on Tuesday.

During the meeting, participants unanimously rejected the federal government’s decision, citing its devastating impact on the already struggling Higher Education sector.

The Academic Staff Associations (ASAs) have been directed to convene meetings and rally all stakeholders to raise a unified voice.

Additionally, the Council resolved to hold a sit-in in Islamabad next week to demand legitimate rights.

As representatives of the academic community across Pakistan, the President and General Secretary of FAPUASA strongly condemned the federal government’s unilateral decision to cut the budgets of provincial universities.

They argued that this decision is not only harmful but also exceeds the constitutional authority of the federal government. According to the constitution, any decision regarding the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget must be presented at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting.

The higher education budget is a critical issue affecting the entire nation. It is essential that the government allocates funds according to provincial shares before making any cuts to the HEC budget. The federal government’s decision to reduce the HEC budget will severely impact universities across the provinces, many of which are already facing significant financial challenges.

The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), along with its provincial chapters, has persistently raised its concerns through mainstream media, video messages, and letters to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and has also organized protests.

Despite these efforts, the government has shown a lack of seriousness in addressing the dire conditions of our universities. 

It is crucial to emphasize that higher education plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a country. Undermining this sector will have long-term detrimental effects on our nation’s progress and prosperity.

FAPUASA strongly demands that the government immediately withdraw its decision regarding the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget. Moreover, it urges the government to increase the higher education budget by up to 500 billion rupees in the upcoming federal budget. Failure to reverse this decision will result in the closure of universities nationwide, as most institutions will be unable to pay salaries and pensions.

In Pakistan, the federal government’s budget cuts for universities pose a significant challenge, especially for provinces like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, which have not yet established their provincial Higher Education Commissions (HECs). 

Without such bodies, these provinces lack the localized governance and strategic oversight necessary to mitigate the impact of reduced funding. 

Additionally, these institutions might need to enhance their efforts in securing research grants and donations while also advocating for interim support from the federal HEC to ensure that educational standards and development projects do not stall.

FAPUASA remains hopeful that the government will reverse this adverse decision and ensure that all constitutional formalities are fulfilled before making any decisions affecting the budget of universities. The future of our higher education system and, consequently, the future of Pakistan depends on it.