LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Monday approved 25pc Disparity Reduction Allowance for teachers and employees of all the public sector universities of the province.

A delegation of the vice chancellors of the universities of the province, led by the Punjab University VC Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, called on the CM and briefed him about the difficulties faced by the teachers and employees due to non-provision of disparity allowance. At this, the CM approved the allowance. However, the universities would have to take formal approval from respective syndicates for the award of the allowance.

The VCs thanked the CM for resolving the serious issue of the university’s teachers and employees.

Earlier, the government had announced a 25pc Disparity Reduction Allowance for all its employees, excluding those of autonomous bodies including universities.

However, the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), Punjab chapter had launched protest against non-provision of allowance to them.

The teachers had threatened to boycott the classes in all universities in protest against, what they termed, injustice to them. They demanded provision of a 25pc Disparity Reduction Allowance to teachers, officers and employees from BPS-1 to BPS-22 without any discrimination.

Later, PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar called a meeting of the deans of faculties and apprised them about the instructions issued by the CM.

PUASA president Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwar welcomed the decision of the government to give approval of the allowance.

Meanwhile, PU Pro VC Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar inaugurated the five-day book exhibition on Seeratun Nabi (PBUH) at the Irani Section of the PU Library.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2021