University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) Academic Staff Association and B&C Employees on the call of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA), observed black day and demonstrated a protest rally with black armbands and placards chanting slogans against budgetary cut for public sector universities and placing the HEC under the Ministry of Professional and Technical Training and non-release of recurring and development budget of HEC here on Thursday the fourth consecutive day of protest.
A large number of academic and administrative staff demonstrated a protest rally with black armbands and carrying placards chanting slogans in favour of HEC and release of funds. The protesters demanded that if monthly salaries would not be paid, panic would be emerged among the teaching and administrative staff of the University. They urged the government to avert the situation of putting the academic staff on roads and stressed the need for immediately release of funds so that academic and research activities could be continued.
Addressing the protesters ASA President Professor Dr Munir Ahmad Sheikh said that it had become very difficult to pay the salaries of 90 million rupees and make spending of Rs 20 million each on pensions, utilities and others in a month. ASA General Secretary Rana Amir Saeed Khan assured that the protesters would remain peaceful and raise their voices in a civilised manner, but if their demands could not fulfil they would be forced to launch massive protest after July 1.