NA panel summons FUUAST VC over pay, pension issues

Mounting administrative and financial problems at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) have drawn attention of the National Assembly as its Standing Committee on Education summoned Vice Chancellor Dr Zabta Shinwari on Monday.

The NA panel meeting, to be chaired by the committee chairman and attended by Federal Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui along with 21 members, will take up complaints from faculty members relating to non-payment of salaries and pensions, suspension of medical allowances and heavy teaching workloads.

Teachers from the university's Islamabad campus, in consultation with colleagues from Karachi, lodged complaints claiming two to three months of salaries were pending, housing allowance had been withheld for over a year, and medical facilities were practically withdrawn. They alleged that faculty were being forced to teach up to six courses per semester - far beyond standard teaching loads and even against recommendations of the VC's own committee.

The letter further alleged that teachers were compelled to take summer classes without pay, despite the university collecting millions of rupees in fees. Faculty also complained of being restricted to 20 days of annual leave compared to 48 days for non-teaching staff.

Teachers accused the administration of harassment against those who voiced concerns, including issuance of explanation letters and formation of inquiry committees. Questions were also raised about the legality of the university syndicate, which faculty claim is incomplete and functioning with acting officials and unauthorised deans, in violation of the university ordinance.