KARACHI: Retired teachers of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast) and members of civil society demanded that Rs670 million available in the university’s pension fund be immediately used to clear the outstanding dues of pensions and post-retirement dues.

The demand was made in a meeting held at the Karachi Press Club, which was attended by Qazi Khizar Habib of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Tahir Hassan of the Karachi Union of Journalists, Dr Riaz Shaikh of the SZABIST University, Mehnaz Rehman from Fuaast, journalist Sohail Sangi and many other retired teachers of the varsity.

The participants also urged Fuuast Pro-Chancellor and Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to investigate “ongoing financial mismanagement at the university” and to take “ownership” of the institution.

They expressed deep concern that the current vice chancellor of Fuuast not only spends very few days on campus but is also frequently abroad on foreign visits, while allegedly receiving a “hefty salary without proper approval,” further burdening the university’s strained finances.

It was noted that more than 15 retired teachers and 5 non-teaching staff members have passed away without receiving their post-retirement dues. Many retirees are in severe financial distress and are unable to cover medical expenses due to the non-payment of pensions.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025