PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter of Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has rejected the insufficient and unrealistic proposed allocation for public sector universities in the upcoming provincial budget, demanding that at least Rs27 billion be allocated for the province’s universities in the fiscal year 2026-27.
In a statement, the forum expressed grave concern over the severe financial crisis faced by public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and termed the proposed allocation by the provincial finance department highly disappointing and alarming.
The statement said that the provincial government had reportedly proposed only Rs8 billion for the province’s 34 universities in the next fiscal year, describing the amount as grossly inadequate in view of the prevailing financial realities, institutional requirements, and continuously increasing expenditures.
The forum stated that such a limited allocation would not help resolve the ongoing financial crisis of universities, but would instead further aggravate the situation and make it unbearable. It warned that teaching, research, administrative affairs, and student-related activities would be severely affected, while the overall functioning and quality of higher education institutions could face serious threats.
It urged the provincial government to allocate at least Rs27.425 billion for all universities of the province in the 2026-27 budget to ensure financial stability and prevent further deterioration of the higher education system.
