ISLAMABAD:
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has failed to release the required annual budget for universities, which has created financial problems in terms of paying salaries and allocating resources for research. Presently, the Quaid-e-Azam University’s National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR) has to clear house rent and medical reimbursement arrears for the last three years to its staff; implement revised pay scales 2022-23; and pay 15% ad hoc relief granted in the budget 2022-23. The NIHCR administration and staff have pinned hopes on the Ministry of Education and the HEC for a bailout package and higher budget allocations for the fiscal year 2022- 23 to clear the backlog.
If HEC fails to take immediate steps to improve the flow of funds, the situation will worsen in the coming months and both the department and university will be faced with constraints. It is shameful that universities are not being given sufficient funds to cope with routine financial matters. The HEC and Federal Ministry of Education should chalk out a payment plan to reinvigorate different universities and departments’ financial health. They must allocate sufficient funds so that universities can avoid financial constraints and facilitate staff and students. Otherwise, our universities will continue lagging and fail to produce quality research, which will impede overall development.
