LAHORE: The Provincial General Secretary of the Pakistan Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) Dr Kamran Abid has urged the federal government to prioritise higher education in the upcoming budget and significantly increase funding for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and public universities.
He said universities were facing severe financial constraints due to rising inflation, increased energy costs, and inadequate funding, which were disrupting teaching, research, and administrative operations. He warned that without urgent intervention, the higher education system could further weaken.
Dr. Abid noted that Pakistan currently spends only 1.7% of its GDP on higher education — far below the 4–5% international benchmark.
