Teachers body terms pay raise ‘insufficient’

LAHORE:The President of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA), Punjab Chapter, Dr Islam, has strongly criticised the federal government’s budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, calling the salary increase for government employees ‘insufficient’ in light of the country’s rising inflation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dr Islam emphasised that the socio-economic conditions of government servants, particularly university teachers, were deteriorating rapidly, and special measures were urgently needed to support them. Sadly, the federal budget announced on June 10, 2025, has once again failed to include any special incentive or relief package for university teachers.

Dr Islam demanded the federal government immediately clarify that the announced 30% Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) will be extended to university teachers as well, without any discrimination or delay. He also demanded that the recently restored 25% tax rebate should clearly be extended to the coming years. The FAPUASA Punjab also demanded the Punjab government take bold steps in its upcoming provincial budget. Dr Islam urged the Punjab government to allocate at least Rs50 billion as a recurring grant for public universities in Punjab to alleviate their financial distress.