Punjab Chapter of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) on Friday expressed serious concerns over budget cuts for the education sector for fiscal year 2012-2013.
A meeting of the FAPUASA (Punjab Chapter) was held at the University of Engineering and Technology. It was chaired by its President Professor Dr Suhail Aftab Qureshi. Representatives of several academic staff associations from universities in the Punjab attended the meeting.
The representatives expressed the view that the decrease in the higher education budget will end the research culture in the universities.
A resolution passed by the meeting demanded that the “government immediately increase the higher education budget in proportion with increase in salaries.”
The participants also demanded that the government release university budgets that had been held back. They also criticised the HEC’s promotion policy. They also voiced concern over the increase in incidents of on-campus violence.
They expressed solidarity with the Punjab University ASA and condemned those who had beaten a faculty member.
They demanded the HEC fulfill its promise to increase the retirement age of the university teachers to 65 years.
Qureshi demanded that the government take appropriate steps immediately. He said if the demands were not met, a line of action will be discussed in the forthcoming general body meeting in Islamabad on June 28.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2012.
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