DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Coordination Council have expressed serious concern over the lack of practical steps taken in the province’s higher education sector following the devolution of powers under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Noor Muhammad, Professor Ehsan Ali, Director IER Professor Muhammad Rauf, and Professor Dr. Noor Jahan highlighted the pressing issues faced by public sector universities across the province.
They noted that despite the transfer of educational responsibilities to the provinces, no significant progress has been made, particularly with regard to the establishment and operationalization of a provincial Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The speakers lamented that since 2018, no promotions have been granted to university professors, leaving the process stalled. They further stated that nearly all universities in KP were currently grappling with a severe financial crisis.
This has resulted in delayed salaries for faculty and non-payment of pensions to retired employees, many of whom have not received their dues, including commutation and gratuity, since 2019.
“Our retired colleagues, who dedicated their lives to education, are being deprived of their basic rights. Last year, many couldn’t afford to buy Eid clothes for their children, and the situation remains the same this year,” said one of the speakers.
They appealed to the provincial government to immediately release funds to public universities and ensure timely pension payments to retired staff to end the widespread anxiety and financial distress.
The officials stressed that, following the federal government’s announcement that it will no longer fund provincial universities from the next financial year, it has become the constitutional responsibility of the KP government to allocate sufficient resources in the upcoming budget.
They also called for the immediate establishment of an autonomous KP Higher Education Commission staffed with qualified experts to address the ongoing administrative, academic, and financial challenges facing the sector.
Additionally, the council announced that an Educational Jirga will be held on Thursday, May 15, under the auspices of the University of Peshawar and Peshawar University Teachers Association (PUTA).
The event will bring together all key stakeholders, including representatives from civil society, political parties, educational institutions, and the media. The KP government has also been invited to participate in this crucial dialogue.
