Faculty representatives stress academic freedom

Question move to empower minister to chair syndicate meetings

LAHORE:

The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (ASA) has accused the Punjab government of trying to bulldoze the autonomy of universities.

In a meeting of the association's executive council chaired by Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, faculty leaders vowed to resist what they described as an attempt to politicise academic institutions.

At the core of the dispute is the provincial government's plan to amend the legal framework governing public sector universities. The proposed changes would grant the higher education minister the authority to chair syndicate meetings, which the ASA termed a violation of long-established traditions.

At Punjab University, the syndicate has historically included the chief justice of the Lahore High Court as a member, a practice viewed as a safeguard against interference. Faculty members fear a move to replace such checks with political control.

Another contentious move is to include three members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) into university syndicates through a private bill.

The council resolved to resist every step aimed at curtailing academic freedom.

Faculty members urged alumni, students and the civil society to join the effort to safeguard the higher education system in the province.

The council's members also accused the provincial government of allocating a meagre budget for the university, terming it inadequate to sustain quality teaching, research and infrastructure.

The federal government was criticised for scrapping a 25 per cent tax rebate for faculty members.

The association pledged full cooperation in flood amelioration efforts through the university's relief committee.