ISLAMABAD: The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has urged the federal government to introduce immediate policy reforms to address financial and administrative challenges facing Pakistan’s higher education sector.
The federation called for increased funding for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), revision of Tenure Track System (TTS) salaries, restoration of tax incentives for university teachers and researchers, and implementation of a promotion policy for faculty members serving under the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) system.
FAPUASA President Prof. Dr. Aamir Ali said public sector universities are facing growing financial pressures that are affecting academic standards, research output, faculty retention and institutional performance.
He stated that higher education plays a critical role in national development, scientific progress and economic growth, requiring greater attention from policymakers.
Demand for increased HEC funding
FAPUASA expressed concern over what it described as chronic underfunding of the higher education sector and called for a significant increase in HEC allocations.
According to the federation, federal funding for higher education has remained around Rs65 billion since the 2017-18 fiscal year despite an increase in the number of public universities and rising operational costs.
The organization said enhanced recurring and development budgets are necessary to support universities, research projects, scholarships, laboratories and academic infrastructure.
Salary revision and faculty welfare
The federation also urged the government to approve and notify a long-awaited salary revision for faculty members working under the Tenure Track System.
FAPUASA said TTS salaries have remained unchanged despite years of inflation and increasing living expenses, affecting the financial well-being and morale of faculty members.
The association further called for the introduction of death benefits and broader social protection measures for TTS faculty members and their families.
Restoration of tax rebate sought
Another key demand raised by the federation was the restoration of the tax rebate previously available to university teachers and researchers.
According to FAPUASA, the rebate was gradually reduced from 75 percent before being abolished in 2025. The federation argued that the incentive recognized the contribution of educators and researchers to national development, innovation and human resource growth.
Promotion policy and sector concerns
The association also reiterated its demand for the implementation of a uniform promotion policy for faculty members working under the BPS system.
FAPUASA noted that a promotion framework had been developed by the HEC in consultation with stakeholders but has yet to be implemented.
Prof. Dr. Aamir Ali warned that continued challenges in the higher education sector could contribute to brain drain, weaken research capacity and affect Pakistan’s competitiveness in science, technology and innovation.
FAPUASA Vice President Dr. M. Farooq Iqbal Buzdar said investment in higher education should be viewed as a strategic investment in the country’s future. He stressed the importance of supporting universities, researchers and faculty members to promote sustainable economic growth and long-term national development.
The federation reaffirmed its commitment to representing university teachers and researchers and called on the government to prioritize higher education in future policy and budget decisions.
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