VCs of public sector universities concerned at non-payment of Rs 11 billion to HEC

The vice chancellors (VCs) of public sector universities have expressed serious concern over non-release of over Rs 11 billion to Higher Education Commission (HEC) for financial year 2011-12. They further expressed their inability to pay 20 percent increase in salaries proposed in the budget 2012-13.
A special meeting of vice chancellors of public universities held here on Wednesday to discuss challenges being faced by the higher education sector, which was presided over by Engineer Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Chairperson Vice Chancellors' Committee. The committee was informed that the government has yet to release funds for the fourth quarter of financial year 2011-12 including Rs 4.6 billion recurring and Rs 6.8 development funds to HEC.
The committee observed that the remaining recurring budget of 4.6 billion will cater to the 50 percent increase in salaries that was announced by the Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani for the on-going financial year. The committee informed that Finance Division had issued letter to the HEC that the federal government would provide additional Rs 4.6 billion to the universities during the fourth quarter. As a result the universities have incurred huge liabilities and had borrowed from banks and diverted funds from other budget heads to pay the salaries at the enhanced rate with the hope that the same would be provided by the federal government as per its promise.
Further, thousands of scholars pursuing PhD abroad would be adversely affected as a result of non-release of development funds amounting to Rs 6.8 billion for the last quarter of this financial year. It is feared that due to non-release of payment of tuition fee and stipend of these scholars would create huge embarrassment for the government of Pakistan across of the world. Non-release of development funds will also adversely affect the ongoing development projects especially in the newly established and rural-based universities established in the far flung areas of Pakistan.
The vice chancellors also informed that the provincial governments had also refused to extend financial support to the universities as they consider that it was the responsibility of federal government till 2014. The Vice Chancellors hope that the government will revisit this critical issue and amelior0ate the financial crisis by taking corrective measures and honour their commitments to the education sector.
However, the VCs are also concerned that if funds including salaries for university employees were not released in time, the situation can take a bad turn. During the meeting, it was further stated that public sector universities will not be able to pay 20 percent increase in salaries proposed in new budget as the federal government has not yet released the previously increased 50 percent and 15 percent increase in salaries as per its promise.