Protest: AJK varsity react over cuts in their budget

Say the move will affect higher education programmes in the state.

MIRPUR:

Faculty members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) university on Tuesday staged a protest over what they dubbed the “anti-education policies” of the AJK government, in Muzzafarabad. They held placards and banners inscribed with slogans, accusing the government of creating hurdles for higher education in the state.

While addressing the protesters, senior academician Dr Raja Muhammad criticised the government for cutting the development funds of the varsity, earmarked in the current fiscal year.

The protestors observed that the cut in the allocated funds in the budget for the varsity would adversely affect the development projects, especially the already devised scheduled research programme.

Meanwhile, some of the speakers termed it a conspiracy against the higher education system in the state. They urged the government to let the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to perform its duties in line with the established criteria to promote higher educational programmes.

Moreover, they appealed the presidents and prime ministers of AJK and Pakistan to ensure the survival and promotion of the HEC to keep the higher education system intact.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2012.