Islamabad : Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has issued an open letter to the prime minister, MPs, chief ministers and political leaders across the country calling for substantial increase in higher education funding in the upcoming federal budget 2026-27.
Signed by FAPUASA President Prof Dr Akhtiar Ali Ghumro of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, the letter warns that Pakistan's public-sector universities are facing one of the gravest financial crises in their history.
According to the federation, recurring grants allocated through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) remained nearly stagnant for almost seven years, even though inflation soared, the rupee depreciated sharply, utility costs surged and student enrolments continued to rise.
The letter paints a troubling picture of the ground reality: universities struggling to pay salaries and pensions, research laboratories becoming obsolete, libraries losing access to international journals, faculty promotions being delayed and recruitment processes frozen. The crisis, FAPUASA noted, spans institutions across all provinces and the Federal Capital.
FAPUASA stressed that the majority of students enrolled in public-sector universities come from working-class and lower-middle-class families -- children of labourers, farmers, nurses and small shopkeepers -- for whom higher education represents the only route to social mobility and economic security.
"When universities are denied adequate resources, it is these ordinary Pakistani families who ultimately suffer the consequences," the letter stated.
The federation also invoked the 18th Constitutional Amendment, reminding the government that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and the National Finance Commission (NFC) recognised higher education as a national responsibility.
FAPUASA argued that the federal government, therefore, carries a constitutional, legal and moral obligation to ensure adequate funding for universities through HEC.
While acknowledging provincial efforts, particularly those of the Sindh government, the letter stated that provincial support alone is insufficient to address the scale of the crisis and that coordinated federal commitment is essential.
FAPUASA called on the government to increase the federal recurring grant for HEC in line with inflationary realities and to restore and expand the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation for universities.
The federation specifically highlighted the need for modern laboratories, smart classrooms, high-speed digital infrastructure, updated libraries, hostels and dedicated research funding to enable Pakistani universities to compete regionally and internationally.
The association also urged MPs and political party leaders to champion the cause of higher education in parliamentary debates, standing committees and party manifestos, warning that universities must not become casualties of political polarisation or bureaucratic neglect.
Concluding on a passionate note, the letter appealed to the leadership's sense of responsibility toward future generations.
"A nation that underfunds its universities weakens its own future, while a nation that invests in knowledge strengthens its economy, democracy, institutions and global standing," it read.
FAPUASA expressed hope that the upcoming budget would mark a turning point, sending a clear message that Pakistan is committed to education, research and the aspirations of its youth.
