With HEC cuts, KU won’t be able to give govt salary hike

KU’s income is Rs566m and salaries and pensions to cost Rs288m annually

KARACHI: As the Higher Education Commission has slashed its budget, the University of Karachi would like to but cannot give a 50 per cent raise in salaries and pensions as announced by the government.

University officials held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the possibility of giving this benefit to its employees. “The university is going through a severe financial crisis in trying to meet its regular salaries, pensions and other bills,” said a press handout. The meeting was headed by VC Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui.

The budget slashes by the Higher Education Commission have affected a number of KU development projects. The HEC allocated Rs981 million for the fiscal year 2010-2011, which was the same as the previous year. KU had, however, demanded more – Rs1.969 billion.

“The expected income from our own sources would be Rs566 million,” said Siddiqui, adding that the total payroll, pension and other expenditure bill is much higher than the available allocations.

The available funds will not be enough for the university’s financial needs. In order to pay the additional salaries and pensions, as ordered by the government, KU will have to fork out Rs288 million per annum.

“It has been very unfortunate that the university has not received HEC’s allocated grant and it is going to pay salaries for this month by in-house borrowing,” said the press handout. Given this situation, it will be very difficult for the university to meet its expenses after implementing the increase in salaries. It has therefore requested the government and the Higher Education Commission to give it additional grants.

The university made this decision in line with the vice chancellors of other universities as well, who are facing similar financial woes. A committee has been formed to look after the financial matters at KU. Its members are pro-vice chancellors Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, Prof Dr Nassiruddin Khan, Prof Dr Abuzar Wajidi, Syed Masood Abbas Rizwi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.