LAHORE: The Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA) and the Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) on Monday jointly termed federal and provincial higher education budgets insufficient and demanded an increase in allocations.

The PUASA and FAPUASA Punjab chapter office-bearer held a joint press conference at the committee room of the University Club to condemn the federal government’s decision to revoke the longstanding tax rebate for researchers and teachers.

They demanded that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz increase budgetary allocations for the varsities of the province. The meeting was presided over by PUASA president and former FAPUASA head Prof. Dr. Amjad Abbas Khan Magsi, while FAPUASA Balochistan president Prof Dr Kaleemullah Bareach, FAPUASA Punjab president and PUASA secretary Dr Muhammad Islam, vice president ASA Dr Ghalib Atta and president GCU ASA Prof Dr Noman Aftab were also present.

The university staff leaders expressed serious concern over the ‘meagre’ funding and tax issues of the universities of Punjab. Dr Amjad Magsi said, “Despite being the largest province with 51 varsities, only Rs18 billion have been earmarked as recurring grant while Sindh province that has 32 varsities, Rs42bn have been allocated there.

The press conference urged the Punjab chief minister for an immediate revision of allocation of recurring grants for the public sector universities in the province. The office-bearers said the tax rebate was originally introduced by the Musharaf government in 2006 at 75pc, aimed at promoting research and academic retention. It was reduced to 40pc by the PML-N government in 2013, and now the PML-N dispensation is abolishing it completely. The rebate was never a luxury; it was a lifeline for university faculty and researchers who routinely pay out of pocket for journal publication fees, chemicals, fieldwork, and academic travel. Its abolition will demoralise scholars, reduce research productivity and accelerate brain drain, weakening Pakistan’s academic future. Despite the federal budget growing from Rs5.9 trillion in 2018 to Rs 17.5tr in 2025, a 196pc increase, the recurring grant for higher education has remained frozen at just Rs 65bn.

Meanwhile, the number of public universities has grown from 126 to 160, and operating costs, salaries, pensions, utilities, have skyrocketed.

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the country is spending only 0.8pc of its GDP on education overall, and a mere 0.37pc on higher education in the current fiscal year. This is well below the Unesco-recommended 4-6pc, and far behind regional peers like India and Bangladesh.

Shockingly, both the PML-N and the PPP had committed in their election manifestos to increase education spending to 4pc of GDP, but failed to honour those promises while in power.

Project for students: The PU Directorate of Students Affairs has launched a social service and development project in 65 sectors to promote social service.

Under the project, the PU students will work in various social sectors during the summer vacation till Aug 28. These projects include starting YouTube channels, planting trees, teaching children artificial intelligence software, helping in resolving local conflicts, teaching fine arts or videography, volunteering in hospitals, improving water access, starting local book clubs and mentoring youth.

Students Affairs Director Dr Shahzeb Khan said the students who played a role in social development would be mentored. He said an exhibition of the best projects of the students and an award ceremony would also be held in which the successful projects would be awarded by PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2025