KARACHI: The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has constituted a four-member committee to examine the financial and administrative crisis at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuuast), following weeks of protests and an examination boycott by teachers.

According to a notification issued by the HEC on June 30, the committee has been constituted “in continuation of the governance & human resource audit” carried out by an earlier HEC-appointed committee and “in view of the continued concerns regarding governance, financial management, administrative functioning and institutional affairs” of the university.

The announcement came after Fuuast teachers staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday as their examination boycott entered its 23rd day.

The protesters attempted to march towards Governor House. However, police stopped them at the entrance to the “Red Zone”.

The teachers have been demanding the immediate payment of salaries, pensions, house ceiling claims and other outstanding dues.

They say salaries have remained unpaid for two months, pensions for four months and house ceiling claims for 26 months. They have also levelled allegations of administrative irregularities and harassment of female faculty members.

As per the notification, the committee will be headed by HEC adviser Nazeer Hussain and comprises Aftab Rashid, joint secretary of ministry of federal education and professional training (MFE&PT); Hameed Niazi, joint secretary of MFE&PT; and HEC assistant director Hammad Bin Saif as member/secretary.

The committee has been tasked with reviewing the university’s governance and financial, academic, human resources and administrative affairs.

The committee has also been directed to “examine any significant developments, events, decisions, complaints or representations” arising after the earlier inquiry and submit a supplementary report within 30 days, identifying “any continuing or newly observed governance deficiencies, responsibility wherever warranted, and such further recommendations as may be considered appropriate”.

In a statement, the Anjuman-i-Asatza of the Abdul Haq and Gulshan-i-Iqbal campuses of Fuuast welcomed the committee’s formation.

However, the teachers are yet to announce an end to the ongoing exam boycott.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026