ISLAMABAD: Teachers in Pakistan have raised alarm over what they describe as an inadequate budget allocation for the higher education sector. They argue that the federal government’s funding for fiscal year 2025-26 falls short of meeting the growing financial demands of the sector.

The government has allocated Rs66.4 billion for the recurring budget (covering salaries and pensions), but the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had requested Rs84.6 billion. The budget cut, particularly in the development budget, has left many universities in a difficult financial situation.

For development projects, the government has allocated Rs39.4 billion, a significant reduction from last year’s allocation of Rs65 billion. The decrease in funding is causing universities, including the top-ranked Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), to struggle with paying salaries and pensions.

Muhammad Jadoon Khan, Information Secretary of the All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), highlighted that many universities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, are facing financial crises. He pointed out that QAU has already failed to pay the ceiling grant for the month and warned that if the budget is not increased, universities will be in a dire situation.

FAPUASA has strongly rejected the federal budget, expressing concerns over the continued freeze on the HEC’s recurring grant, which was Rs65 billion in 2018. The association also noted that salaries for Tenure Track System (TTS) faculty have not been revised since 2021, despite the growing number of universities and students, as well as rising inflation and utility charges.

In a joint statement, FAPUASA’s leaders called on the government to reconsider the budget allocation for higher education. They warned that failing to provide the necessary funding would undermine Pakistan’s higher education system and hinder the country’s socio-economic development.

FAPUASA urged the government to revise the budget in the Finance Bill to ensure that the critical financial needs of universities are addressed. If not, the future of higher education in Pakistan could be at risk.