DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has expressed serious concern over the non-payment of salaries and pensions to employees of Gomal University.

He criticised the provincial government over what he described as a worsening financial and administrative crisis in the province’s universities.

In a video message, the governor said it was ‘extremely regrettable’ that employees of Gomal University and other universities across the province, including faculty members, teachers, Class-IV and other staff, had been forced to take to the streets to demand their salaries and pensions.

He said protests by teachers and other employees had disrupted academic activities, while the financial difficulties faced by employees had also affected their households. He warned that the situation was putting the educational future of young people in the province at risk.

Mr Kundi said that the government should ensure the legitimate rights of its own people, including teachers, doctors, nurses and local government representatives. He urged the provincial government to abandon political tours and protest politics and focus on law and order and governance issues in the province.

The governor attributed the financial crisis in universities to what he termed illegal and excessive recruitment. He demanded a transparent inquiry into all alleged illegal and unnecessary appointments made in universities over the past 13 years.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2026