Lahore, The Academic Staff Association (ASA) of GC University Lahore has expressed its concern that the increased salary of 15 percent announced by the federal government in June 2011 is not being paid to employees of several universities including GCU because of non-release of funds from the Higher Education Commission and federal government.

In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, GCU ASA President Prof. Dr. Hassan Amir Shah and GCU Non Gazetted Staff Association President Khaliq Hussain stated state that stress upon the federal government and HEC that this situation be rectified immediately as the staff is facing severe hardships because of the increased cost of living and expenses incurred due to the dengue epidemic.

Prof. Dr. Hassan Amir Shah requested the federal government and HEC to immediately transfer the requisite funds to GCU. It is also stated that the Punjab government has transferred only Rs. 4 million this year against Rs.125 million budget allocated in previous year to GCU which has without credible reason been slashed by Rs. 108 million from the budget. At the same time Rs. 100 million grant announced by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani last year at the GCU Convocation has also not yet been released.

They said that this inadequate transfer of funds from both the federal and Punjab governments is causing a hindrance in the development and welfare of the University as well as hardship to the staff. “We demand immediate release of funds to GCU to improve the financial situation,” they said.