Tax rebate issue: Teachers’ body to observe Black Day tomorrow

LAHORE:The Federation of All-Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has announced to observe a Black Day on March 6 (tomorrow) across all universities nationwide as a protest over discontinuation of the 25% tax rebate.

This will be followed by a series of protests starting with a class boycott and protest rallies on March 11. In an emergent online meeting of the FAPUASA Executive Council, chaired by President Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, the FAPUASA termed the discontinuation of the 25% tax rebate as an act of anti-education policy of the government. The FAPUASA president said that the rebate was approved by the National Assembly in June 2024 and had been granted in previous years, and now the FBR was deducting the salaries of university teachers, which was completely illegal and illogical. He stressed that the FBR's actions exceeded its authority and undermined the parliament. FAPUASA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of the academic and teaching community. FAPUASA called on the authorities to reinstate the 25% tax rebate for teachers and researchers, warning that the protest would escalate nationwide if this demand was not met. FAPUASA Pakistan also vehemently condemned the manhandling of PU teachers by the Punjab police during the peaceful protest by the Punjab University Academic Staff Association, which sought the restoration of a 25% tax rebate.