PESHAWAR
The Peshawar University Teachers Association (PUTA) on Wednesday warned that its members would boycott teaching and examination duties from Monday, February 9, if the provincial government did not announce the date of the long-delayed Selection Board meeting by Sunday, February 8.
Addressing a press conference at the Community Center, PUTA President Dr. Zakirullah Jan said the University of Peshawar, the oldest university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been grappling with prolonged financial and administrative crises.
He noted that after the 18th Amendment, universities came under provincial control, but the provincial government had failed to fulfill its responsibilities in the higher education sector.
Dr. Jan warned that the situation had become so critical that the university may not even have funds to pay staff salaries in March.
He urged the government to provide a special grant to address salary and pension obligations, pointing out that while the university generates around Rs3.5 billion from its own resources, its total budget stands at Rs7 billion.
“Until the provincial government steps in, the financial burden on students is likely to increase, he added.
He also highlighted the administrative challenges, stating that the Selection Board had not met for years, leaving 225 teaching positions vacant. Currently, the university has 20,000 students but only 480 teachers.
He criticised the provincial government for declaring the university financially autonomous while simultaneously blocking administrative decisions, including the issuance of the NOC required for the Selection Board meeting.
Dr. Jan warned that if the board meeting date was not announced by Sunday, PUTA members would halt all responsibilities, including teaching and examinations.
