Kundi slams K-P over Gomal University crisis

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has expressed deep concern over the non-payment of salaries and pensions to employees of Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, and the institution's worsening financial and administrative crisis, strongly criticising the provincial government over the situation.

In a video message, Governor Kundi said it was highly regrettable that employees of Gomal University and other universities across the province, including faculty members, teachers, Class-IV employees and other staff, had been forced to take to the streets to demand payment of their outstanding salaries and pensions.

He said academic activities had been disrupted due to protests by teachers and other employees, while many workers were facing severe financial hardship because of the prolonged non-payment of their dues. The situation, he warned, was also putting the educational future of the province's youth at stake.

Addressing the K-P government and the Chief Minister, Kundi said that before raising concerns about the rights of other provinces, the provincial authorities should ensure the legitimate rights of their own people, including teachers, doctors, nurses and local government representatives.

He urged the provincial government to move away from political visits and protest politics and instead focus on improving law and order and addressing governance challenges within the province.

The Governor said the financial crisis facing universities was largely the result of illegal and excessive recruitment. He demanded a transparent inquiry into all allegedly illegal and surplus appointments made in the province's universities over the past 13 years.

Kundi said the Pakistan Peoples Party supported the creation of employment opportunities but added that politically motivated and illegal appointments in financially troubled institutions such as Gomal University had contributed to the deterioration of such institutions.