Three of Pakistan’s leading federally chartered universities—Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), and the Federal Urdu University of Science and Technology—are struggling with a severe financial crisis, making it difficult to pay salaries and pensions.
According to official sources, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training have requested an urgent supplementary grant of Rs2.5 billion from the government to help these universities stay operational.
Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani confirmed the request, stating:
“Yes, we have submitted a request for Rs2.5 billion to support QAU, Urdu University, and IIUI. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon after approval from the relevant authorities.”
Pakistan’s Higher Education Sector Faces Rs60 Billion Deficit
Pakistan’s overall higher education sector is grappling with a funding shortfall of Rs60 billion, according to HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.
Speaking at a National Assembly Standing Committee, Dr. Mukhtar revealed that:
- HEC required Rs125 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24.
- The government allocated only Rs65 billion, worsening the financial crisis.
- Per-student funding has dropped from Rs67,528 in 2018-19 to Rs50,956 in 2023-24.
In response to the crisis, the National Assembly committee has urged the government to increase the education budget to at least 4% of GDP in the 2025-26 federal budget.
Provincial Funding Issues Exacerbate the Crisis
An HEC official highlighted that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, funding for provincial universities became the responsibility of provincial governments. However, except for Sindh, most provinces have failed to provide sufficient funding, adding pressure on HEC to support federally chartered universities.
“A significant portion of our budget is spent on provincial universities, which has strained our ability to support federally chartered institutions,” the official stated.
Universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Worst Affected
The official also warned that universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are facing extreme financial hardship due to stagnant HEC funding, rising salaries, pensions, and utility costs.
“We urge both federal and provincial governments to allocate sufficient funds for universities in the next budget.
The higher education sector cannot progress without proper financial support,” the official added.
