ISLAMABAD: One of the leading state universities in Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) has approached the federal government for a bailout package, seeking Rs500 million to overcome its financial crisis.

Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Shaista Sohail, in a letter, requested the education ministry and federal government for the bailout package. The letter dated Jan 9 was addressed to the education minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and said that the university was under a “serious financial crisis and need emergent bailout package”.

“Despite limited financial resources, Quaid-i-Azam University has sustained its top position in all international rankings. It stands as the only university in Pakistan in the top 500 universities of the world. In order to facilitate a large cohort of students hailing from far-flung areas with quality education and state of the art research, boarding & transportation facilities, huge finances are required,” read the letter.

It further said, “The premier institute of higher learning is under serious financial crises and needs an emergent bailout for QAU’s endowment fund to cope up the financial crises and pressing needs on the following grounds: 1) students of [ex-]FATA/Balochistan/Sindh, who have not paid fee due to floods. 2) The university budget for the current fiscal year 2022-23 has been estimated with a deficit of Rs 580.502 million. 3) Disruption caused due to Bharakau Bypass, and commitment of bailout plan given by the Ministry of Education.”

VC writes letter to education minister, says students hailing from flood-hit areas failed to pay fees

It said that in the meeting of the syndicate held on October 21, 2022, at QAU, it was agreed to facilitate the resolution of financial needs – a deficit of Rs 500 million – of the QAU in consultation with the HEC.

The VC requested the education minister to direct the officials concerned to initiate a summary for the approval of Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif to meet the financial need of the university. It is relevant to note here, the abovementioned meeting of the syndicate was held to resolve issues between CDA backed by the federal government, and QAU over the issue of the Bhara Kahu bypass project.

The meeting had allowed the university to get the 225 kanals in lieu of the university’s 199 kanals that was falling in the alignment of the bypass project.

The syndicate had allowed the construction work on the bypass on assurances and a package deal finalised by the Joint Working Group (JWG) headed by Additional Secretary Ministry of Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry.

In the said meeting, the JAC report, also endorsed by the syndicate, stated that the Ministry of Education in consultation with the Higher Education Commission will work out a bail-out package of Rs5 billion for the QAU and a summary would be sent to the prime minister.

Similarly, the JWG also stated that one hostel for QAU students would be constructed through HEC’s umbrella project and the ministry would facilitate the university in the allocation of funds for the construction of the academic block at QAU under the PSDP. Later, the issue went to court, but the decision came out in favour of the bypass project.

“QAU should be given due recognition by the federal government. This university is a top-ranked higher education institution in the country. The government should immediately release a bailout package for it,” said an officer of the education ministry.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2023