LAHORE: The Punjab University teachers have requested the chief minister to revise the PhD and MPhil allowances for all public sector universities in the province.

The teachers have written a letter to the chief minister to revise the allowance for scholars and given reference of the same being done by the Sindh government.

It states that “Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association and Academic Staff Associations of individual universities are striving hard to match with the challenges faced by the institutions of higher learning in the country. The Punjab University, being the largest, oldest and finest seat of higher learning in the subcontinent, feels having a leading role in the country, in consultation with other stakeholders in public sector universities of Punjab. We, the representatives of the academic community, invite your kind attention towards increasing the PhD and MPhil allowance to a suitable extent across the universities and DAI’s in the province.”

PU’s Dr Mahboob Hussain said scholars in Sindh were receiving Rs25,000 allowance, whereas in Punjab it was Rs10,000.

He said the allowance was stopped after retirement and it should be continued as retired professors continue to offer their services.

He said after the faculty members completed their MPhil or PhD, their pay gets increased with the addition of the allowance which was insufficient.

The letter also pointed out their earlier demand to revise the formation of search committees and the criteria for appointment of vice chancellors in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2018