The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) met with the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, and his team at the Commission’s Secretariat to discuss key challenges facing higher education institutions across the country.
FAPUASA was represented by President Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, General Secretary Dr Muhammad Uzair, Vice President Dr Mazhar Iqbal, and other representatives including delegates from regional chapters. The meeting opened with an in-depth conversation on the financial constraints of the higher education sector. FAPUASA urged the government to increase budget allocations in the upcoming federal budget, highlighting the strain caused by inflation, stagnant funding, and expanding operational needs.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed addressed concerns by clarifying that university grants had not been directly reduced. He attributed fluctuations to staffing changes in the Tenure Track System (TTS). Ms. Samina Durrani, Director of Finance at HEC, explained that while inflation had necessitated some reallocations, core services and salaries remained protected.
The FAPUASA delegation reiterated concerns over the service structure for faculty on the Basic Pay Scale (BPS) and recommended extending the deferment of post-PhD experience requirements for appointments to senior academic positions. Dr Ahmed responded that the HEC is developing a unified faculty service structure that includes clear performance agreements and evaluation systems.
Addressing institutional efficiency, Dr Ahmed proposed rationalizing academic and administrative setups by consolidating redundant departments and underperforming campuses. He emphasized that optimizing public resource use and strengthening institutional accountability are vital. Ms. Durrani added that improving transparency and cost efficiency in financial operations is a key focus for the HEC.
Challenges faced by faculty associated with Centers of Excellence were also raised. These included limited career growth and restricted access to host university facilities. Dr Ahmed stated that legislative reforms are underway to better integrate these centers within university frameworks, and a proposal to increase their funding by 50 percent has been sent to provincial authorities.
Academic integrity was another major topic of discussion, particularly the consistent implementation of the semester system and concerns over unchecked authority in student evaluations. Both HEC and FAPUASA recognized the need for stronger accountability mechanisms to preserve the credibility of academic processes. Dr Ahmed warned that misuse of authority threatens the integrity of Pakistan’s higher education system.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from both sides to continue close collaboration to protect and strengthen the future of higher education in Pakistan.