ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: The financial problems in the higher education sector are taking its toll on universities, causing unrest among staff members.

The eight-day-long strike by the staff of all public sector (seven) universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has already brought educational activities to a standstill.

Staff members are protesting against the non-implementation of 20 per cent increase in salaries announced by the federal government in the budget.

In Balochistan, staff members of 14 universities receive salaries in the second week of the month. The situation in other provinces is no different and educationists fear that the strike started in KP may spread to other universities, Dawn has learnt.

Prof Kaleemullah Bareach, President of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAUASA), while talking to Dawn said that government servants get their salaries on the first day of every month but 100,000 employees of universities have been ignored by the government.

He said that at the start of the fiscal year, government announced 20 per cent increase in salaries for all government employees but universities staff members have been deprived of that increase.

“We have been left with no option but to go on strike. In the first phase we have stopped working in universities of KP and if the government does not solve the issue, we will go for a country-wide strike,” he said.

“In universities of Balochistan, every month faculty members protest against delay in salaries. In October, we were paid on the 8th and now we have been informed that there is no pay before Eid. In the past, we used to get at least 15 days salary on the eve of Eid,” he said.

“Government of KP has assured us that funds will be released to pay 20 per cent increase announced in the budget but past experience has shaken our trust so we cannot trust the government,” he said.

A faculty member of Gomal University said that the last fiscal year, the planning division could not release Rs4 billion recurring budget to Higher Education Commission (HEC) and this year the regulatory body was yet to receive Rs6 billion under the same head.

“In Punjab, the provincial government has banned self-finance schemes, so universities cannot generate funds. KP, Balochistan and Sindh universities do not have funds to pay salaries, so they borrow money from different financial institutions,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi, while talking to Dawn said that because of the strike, management and students both have been suffering. Exams of master level have been postponed because of the strike.

“All offices have been locked due to which we have no option but to discontinue our activities. VCs have contacted HEC and planning commission to solve the issue. We are hopeful that the political government will resolve the issue,” he said.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeemul Haq could not be contacted, however an officer of planning commission requesting not to be identified said that funds will be released to the universities soon.

Media coordinator HEC, Murtaza Noor while talking to Dawn said that it is a very serious issue which needs immediate attention and solution.

“This issue is already highlighted by Academic Staff Association and VCs from time to time. The senior management of HEC is in touch with both the provincial and federal government to get the issue resolved,” he said.