LAHORE/TOBA TEK SINGH, May 28, 2024 – The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has declared May 30 a “Black Day” to protest the federal government’s substantial reduction of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. The budget, previously set at Rs65 billion, has been slashed to Rs25 billion and now only includes universities in the federal area, excluding provincial universities.
The HEC had originally requested Rs126 billion to support over 160 public universities across the country. FAPUASA’s executive council, led by President Dr. Amjad Abbas Magsi and General Secretary Dr. Muhammad Uzair, held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the government’s notification. The council unanimously rejected the budget cuts, citing severe negative impacts on the already struggling higher education sector.
In response to the budget cuts, FAPUASA has called for all universities nationwide to participate in a Black Day on May 30. The association also plans to organize a sit-in in Islamabad next week to demand the reinstatement of funds for the universities.
FAPUASA leaders condemned the federal government’s decision, labeling it as unconstitutional and beyond the federal authority. They insisted that such budget decisions should be reviewed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) as required by the constitution. The association warned that the budget cuts could force many universities to shut down due to their inability to pay salaries and pensions.
The budget reduction is particularly challenging for provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which have not established their own provincial higher education commissions (HECs). Without localized governance and oversight, these provinces will struggle to mitigate the impact of reduced funding.
In solidarity, the Vice Chancellors Committee held an emergency online meeting, chaired by Dr. Iqrar Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF). The VCs stressed that cutting the HEC budget would jeopardize the future of students and the viability of public sector universities. They urged both federal and provincial governments to ensure adequate financial support for the higher education sector.
HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed and Executive Director Dr. Ziaul Qayyum have vowed to appeal to the finance ministry to reconsider the budget cuts. They emphasized that reducing the HEC budget would undermine two decades of investment in higher education and weaken national integration efforts through youth development.
FAPUASA and the VCs Committee continue to hope that the government will reverse its decision and allocate appropriate funds to sustain the country’s higher education institutions. The future of Pakistan’s educational system and its youth depend on this crucial support.