72 universities to go on strike

Faculty members of 72 public sector universities decide to go on strike against suspension of funds to HEC.


Express September 22, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Faculty members of 72 public sector universities have decided to go on strike against the suspension of funds to the Higher Education Commission  of Pakistan (HEC) by the federal government.

Vice Chancellors (VCs) of the universities and representatives of the government on Tuesday were unable to reach a solution with regards to the issue of funding. The maiden meeting was presided over by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.

During the meeting both sides discussed various options to resolve the dispute over the blocking of development funds and the government’s indecision about bearing the cost of an extra Rs7 billion on account of a 50 per cent raise in employees’ salaries since July 1. Since no decision was reached, faculty members of the universities will go on strike today (Wednesday) in order to protest against the non-payment of salaries,

“The meeting was held in an amicable atmosphere and the statements of locking the universities was the brainchild of political minds,” said Dr Nadeem ul Haq, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission.

The government has cut HEC’s funds in the wake of fiscal constraints. The government has allocated Rs15.8 billion for the HEC for the current year, an amount which is Rs19 billion less than that needed and is under threat of reduction.

So far the government has only released Rs1.4 billion of this amount, all of which is going towards human resources while no money has yet been released for scholarships as a result of which the future of 14,000 PhD students, 5,000 of whom are studying abroad, is at stake.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (15)

Dr.K.M.Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply Call for Long March till the removal of Present Government The financial situation of the 72 public sector universities in country is miserable due to bad governance of the present regime. How we will raise the standard of education in the country when we don’t have the facilities that a real university should have and when we don’t have to pay for the salaries of the faculty. I suggest that Faculty members of 72 public sector universities along with students should come forward to march towards Islamabad and to arrange a sit in before the President house and they should not roll back till this corrupt government comes to its end. All of you have listen one of its Federal Minister’s press conference in Quetta and might have seen the video recorded by media sometime in 2008 in a house of F-10 in Islamabad where this minister has been seen in inexpressible condition. Please come forward to save this country. This is the time to save Pakistan and to send all these ministers along with Prime Minister and President home back. You the faculty members of these of 72 public sector universities and your students are the only force that can save this country now otherwise it will be too late…. Dr.K.M.Rashid kmrashiduk@yahoo.co.uk
Dr.K.M.Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply The financial situation of the 72 public sector universities in country is miserable due to bad governance of the present regime. How we will raise the standard of education in the country when we don’t have the facilities that a real university should have and when we don’t have to pay for the salaries of the faculty. I suggest that Faculty members of 72 public sector universities along with students should come forward to march towards Islamabad and to arrange a sit in before the President house and they should not roll back till this corrupt government comes to its end. All of you have listen one of its Federal Minister’s press conference in Quetta and might have seen the video recorded by media sometime in 2008 in a house of F-10 in Islamabad where this minister has been seen in inexpressible condition. Please come forward to save this country. This is the time to save Pakistan and to send all these ministers along with Prime Minister and President home back. You the faculty members of these of 72 public sector universities and your students are the only force that can save this country now otherwise it will be too late….
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