Without sufficient funding to varsities, no knowledge-based economy possible: FAPUASA

Islamabad:Executive Council Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) acknowledgjng the efforts of Sindh government for allocating funds in last year’s budget has urged Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan governments to follow the same.

This was decided in an online meeting of Executive Council of FAPUASA convened to address serious financial crisis of the higher education sector. The meeting was moderated by Fareed Khan Achakzai.

The EC meeting was held a day after the joint meeting of FAPUASA with All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) here at Quaid-i-Azam University. The EC stressed that without provincial support, universities would continue to face severe financial shortfalls. The Council further demanded from all provincial governments to allocate adequate funds for universities.

The central focus of the EC meeting also was the critical issue of higher education funding in the upcoming federal budget for FY 2025-26. FAPUASA highlighted that the Higher Education Commission's recurring grant remained stagnant at Rs65 billion since 2018-19 beget, despite rising operational costs, higher inflation rate and frequent raises in salaries and pensions which are exclusively covered by the recurring grant.

To safeguard the sector’s future, the Executive Council of public-sector universities’ representative body also demanded that the Federal Government allocate a recurring grant of at least Rs200 billion for higher education in the FY 2025-26 budget. It further emphasised that all public universities across Pakistan stand united behind this demand.

FAPUASA also raised serious concerns regarding delay in the restoration of the 25% tax rebate for teachers and researchers. Despite approval from the Federal Cabinet, the relevant bill has not yet been presented to the appropriate forums for amendments. With the fiscal year rapidly coming to an end, there is no clarity on the matter, creating anxiety among university teachers and researchers whose wellbeing and peace of mind are dependent on this tax benefit. In light of this, FAPUASA demanded the immediate approval and implementation of 25% tax rebate.

FAPUASA reaffirmed that investing in higher education is essential to Pakistan’s progress. Without sufficient funding, universities cannot meet academic or research goals, nor can the country achieve its vision of a knowledge-based economy. In a unanimous resolution, the Council condemned recent Indian aggression expressing firm solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces and the nation.