Quad-i-Azam University employees demand 50% raise in salaries
Islamabad:More than 500 employees of Quad-i-Azam University (QAU) held a protest demonstration on Friday against what they term as an open injustice as the university administration have not increased their salaries up to 50 per cent which was announced in the budget 2010-11.
Raising their voice against the massive budget cut in Higher Education Commission (HEC), which was affecting the universities adversely, the protesters demanded increase in the budget of HEC so that universities could pay 50 per cent adhoc increase in salaries, 15 per cent increase in medical allowance and 15 per cent to 20 per cent increase in pension to its employees, as announced in the budget for the fiscal year 2010-11.
The protesters were holding placards inscribed with slogans for the increase in budget of HEC and saving the future of education in the country. The employees were of the view that the inflation has increased manifold within the time span of a year and it was not possible for them to make both ends meet in the current income.
They said that it was an open injustice that the salaries of other government sector employees have been increased except those working in public sector universities due to the inability of HEC to pay required funds to the universities.
According to the information there were currently 1500 employees working in BPS in university and the administration could not possibly pay the increased salaries in the available funds. “We have been given a budget of Rs525 million for this fiscal year while Rs600 million is required only to pay the salaries of the employees,” an official said.
According to the officials there are several other expanses, which a university has to pay which include utility bills, vehicles patrol, laboratory maintenance, purchase of chemicals and equipments. “The universities would only be able to pay the increased salaries if the budget of HEC would be increased,” he said.
Talking to ‘The News’ QAU Registrar Dr. Shafiq-ur-Rehman said that it was impossible for the university to increase the salaries of its employees as it was already in severe financial crunch. “The income of the university is equal to none to meet with the huge expanses of the universities,” he said.
However, QAU Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr. Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai addressed to the protesters on the occasion and assured that he would take every possible measure to increase the salaries of employees. “We are already having meetings with HEC and requesting them to release our funds so that we can pay the increased salaries of our employees,” he maintained.
It is worth mentioning here that the Vice Chancellors of 52 public sector universities on Wednesday held an emergent meeting where they urged the government to restore the budget to its original level of Rs28 billion. Recurring Budget and Rs30 billion Development Budget as was agreed by Ministry of Finance for fiscal year 2010-11.
The VCs were of the view that under current circumstances it would not be possible for the universities to provide 50 per cent adhoc increase in salaries, 15 per cent increase in medical allowance and 15 to 20 per cent increase in pension to its employees They urged the government to provide a supplementary recurring grant of Rs7 billion to cater to salary increases.The news
