PESHAWAR: The protest by Class-III and Class-IV employees of the University of Peshawar has entered its fourth consecutive week, as they continue to press the provincial government and university administration for the timely release of salaries and pensions, along with a permanent solution to the institution’s ongoing financial crisis.The protesting employees have expressed serious concern over persistent delays in payments, stating that the situation has caused severe financial hardship for staff and their families. They have demanded immediate intervention to ensure regular disbursement of salaries and pensions and to address what they describe as a deepening financial crunch at the university.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar University Teachers Association has made an urgent appeal to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who also serves as Chancellor of the university, seeking immediate financial relief.
In the letter, the association described the situation as critical, noting that the university - an institution with a legacy of over 75 years - has long served as a cornerstone of higher education and socio-economic development in the province. However, it said, the very people sustaining the institution are now under severe strain.
According to the letter, 50 percent of salaries for March, amounting to Rs131 million, remain unpaid, while pensions worth Rs162 million for the same month have yet to be released entirely. The association warned that many employees and pensioners are struggling to meet basic needs, including household expenses, rent, utilities, healthcare, and children’s education.
The teachers further highlighted uncertainty in the coming months, stating that the university currently lacks the resources to ensure payment of salaries and pensions from April to July. This, they said, has created unrest among faculty, staff, and retired employees.
Despite repeated delays over the past year, the association stated that academic activities have continued uninterrupted, with faculty and staff maintaining their responsibilities. However, it cautioned that the situation is becoming unsustainable without immediate government support.
The association urged the provincial government to ensure release of the remaining salaries and pending pensions for March without delay, establish a reliable mechanism for timely payments in the future, and allocate at least Rs4 billion in the upcoming budget to support the university’s core functions. It also called for the creation of a pension endowment fund of at least Rs5 billion to ensure long-term financial security for retired employees.
