FAPUASA concerned over poor financial condition of varsities

PESHAWAR: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has expressed serious concern over the precarious financial situation of public sector universities across the country and stressed the need for substantial increase in both federal and provincial budgets and grant-in-aid for universities.

The newly-elected executive council of the association held its maiden meeting held here on Tuesday with its president Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi in the chair. Attended by general secretary Dr Mohammad Uzair and others, the meeting demanded the federal government allocate at least Rs500 billion in the upcoming federal budget to ensure continuous funding for public sector universities through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Islamabad.

Vice-president of the association Dr Mazhar Iqbal, presidents, general secretaries, and executive members from provincial chapters of the association also attended the meeting.The meeting also urged the provincial governments to allocate at least Rs 50 billion each in their budgets for universities’ recurrent expenses. It was decided that FAPUASA leadership would engage federal and provincial ministers, as well as other government officials, personally and through official correspondence to advocate for budget allocations.

The meeting called upon the provincial governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to promptly disburse grant-in-aid to universities experiencing prolonged salary payment delays. They also urged the expeditious establishment of provincial HECs on the pattern of other provinces.The meeting decided to launch a token demonstration in the universities across the country till the next meeting on the executive council scheduled to be held on May 29, 2024. If the government failed to meet budgetary demands, the association would think over more options for protests including a sit-in in Islamabad.

The meeting condemned Israel for its barbarism against the innocent Palestinians. The council also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the sad demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the tragic helicopter crash.