ISLAMABAD, July 26: The government’s Rs8.5 billion bailout package for Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) shows that education is nowhere in priorities of decision makers.

It was stated by Vice President (VP) All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Prof Zahid Majeed while talking to Dawn.

He said that Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan gave 100 percent results, if it would be compared with other departments of Pakistan like PSM and Pakistan Railways (PR) as their survival is totally dependent on bailout packages.

Mr Zahid said that even last year government of Pakistan issued/passed more than Rs10 billion package for PSM but there is no progress in this department.

“On the other hand HEC of Pakistan gave remarkable results in the meager budget allocated for higher education. We are not demanding extra budget we are just requesting to be provided 9 billion rupees of last quarter of the last year, announced by government,” he said.

“The government committed Rs11 billion for the last quarter of financial year 2011-2012 for recurring and development. The administrative staff of universities were worried and concerned for their salaries and developmental projects,” he added.

Prof Zahid said many employees of universities inquired whether they would get their salary next month or not. PhD scholars are also confused and worried about their financial support.

The universities’ developmental projects are closed or slowed down as HEC informed them that it does not have money for development projects and salaries because the government is not providing last quarter’s budget to HEC.—A Reporter