All (Pakistan) Public-sector Universities Teachers Association (APUBTA) demands all political parties to include their issues particularly those related to service structure and promotion policy for about 50,000 BPS university teachers including over 20,000 PhD degree holders serving in about 150 public sector universities of Pakistan. APUBTA President Dr. Sami ur Rehman and General Secretary Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad, in a joint statement, welcomed the decision of PML-N to seek suggestions from all segments of society in the process of preparing party manifesto. They said that university teachers are among the most important segments of society, and their problems and welfare related issues must be made part of menifestos of all political parties, including PML-N. About 50,000 BPS teachers, including over 20,000 PhDs, lack opportunities for their career growth due to the absence of service structure and promotion policy. The employees of all other public sector organizations and government departments have the right to promotion, but the university teachers are denied of this right which discriminatory and injustice in clear violation of Islamic teachings and fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. The statement said that no nation of the world can develop without giving due importance to the education sector, especially higher education. The state of higher education can not improve without taking care of the problems and issues faced by the university teachers. Almost 90 percent of the university teachers are employed on BPS who lack career growth related opportunities due to the absence of promotion policy. It crests strong resentment and disappointment among the 90 percent of the university teachers. The fate of the BPS university teachers as well as the state of higher education needs special attention of all political parties.
