DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have unanimously rejected the provincial government’s proposed Rs 10 billion grant-in-aid, demanding instead a permanent allocation of at least Rs 50 billion in the provincial budget to address the worsening financial crisis in the higher education sector.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, President of the Grand Alliance of KP Universities Prof. Dr. Dil Nawaz Khan, Vice President Dr. Zakaria Qasmi, General Secretary Arbab Amir Khusro, and Professor Humayun Khan from the University of Agriculture expressed grave concern over the financial instability crippling public sector universities across the province.
The representatives said that universities are currently facing a deficit of over Rs 30 billion, resulting in an inability to pay salaries, pensions, and fund core academic activities. “Teaching, research, and student support services are on the verge of collapse. Public universities are not profit-generating institutions and lack alternative income sources. When the government fails to support them, the burden is shifted to students and parents through fee hikes,” they stated.
The alliance questioned the provincial government’s claim of allocating Rs 10 billion, noting the absence of any verifiable documentation such as the budget book. They further pointed out that the federal government had reduced funding for KP universities this year, prioritizing federal institutions. In this context, they stressed it is the constitutional and moral obligation of the provincial government to ensure sustainable funding.
They called for the immediate allocation of a recurring Rs 50 billion grant, along with a special fund to cover past deficits. They also urged the government to allocate separate development funds for research, infrastructure, and recruitment of security personnel, and demanded a disparity allowance for university staff in line with other provincial employees.
Other key demands included abolishing the NOC condition for employee promotions and appointments, and the establishment of a provincial Higher Education Commission to address university matters locally.
The speakers said meetings with the Chief Secretary, Secretary Education, and Minister for Higher Education yielded only “false promises” and no tangible results. “If our demands are ignored, we will be compelled to initiate a peaceful province-wide protest and shut down universities from next week.
The government will be solely responsible for the consequences,” they warned.
They urged the provincial government to address their demands with sincerity, warning that continued inaction would severely damage the educational landscape and demoralize the academic community, particularly researchers working during the summer break
