LAHORE: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has decided to join with all Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) to participate in a massive protest against ‘anti-employee’ policies of the government which is going to be held in Islamabad on Monday (tomorrow).

FAPUASA Central President Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi expressed his determination to resist all possible measures against the ‘anti-educational’ and ‘anti-employee’ policies of the current government like the abolition of 25 per cent tax rebate for teachers and researchers, changes in the criteria of the appointing vice-chancellors in Sindh, interference in universities autonomy, pension reduction and suspension of leave encashment.

He said that teachers of universities across the country are going through a very rough patch and the government is continually trying to oppress them by imposing unjustified and heinous laws upon them.

He said that the university teachers are engaged in the mental and intellectual cultivation of the new generations with limited salaries and resources, but after giving the most valuable years of their lives to the education sector now the government is depriving them of the basic rights like 25 tax rebate and benefits of their basic rights like pension, and leave encashment.

In the above scenario, many decisions of the government against the employees are flagrant violations of the Constitution and institutional governance.

FAPUASA has announced full support for the demands of AGEGA and all the teachers of the universities will also participate in the protest of AGEGA on Feb 10 with full zeal and zest in Islamabad. He further said that any reduction or suspension of the legitimate benefits of the university and government employees like the abolition of 25 tax rebate and reduction in pensions will not be tolerated and in this struggle, all employees and teaching fraternities across the country are united to protect their legitimate rights and they will not back down under any circumstances.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2025