Salary Delays Spark Financial and Academic Crisis at University of Peshawar, PUTA Seeks Chief Minister's Urgent Intervention

Salary Delays Spark Financial and Academic Crisis at University of Peshawar

A severe financial crisis has engulfed the University of Peshawar (UoP) , one of Pakistan’s premier higher education institutions, leading to catastrophic delays in the disbursement of salaries, pensions, and pension commutation for its employees. The escalating situation has triggered widespread hardship, disrupted academic activities, and threatens to undermine the university’s institutional stability and academic standing.

The Peshawar University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) , the representative body of the faculty, has sounded the alarm, issuing a formal and urgent appeal for intervention to the Chancellor of the university, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister.

A Campus in Crisis: Unpaid Salaries Halt Academic and Research Work

In a detailed letter addressed to the Chief Minister, PUTA outlined the devastating ripple effects of the funding shortfall. The non-payment of timely salaries and pensions has plunged a significant portion of the university’s teaching staff, officers, and support personnel into serious financial distress.

"This crisis is not merely administrative; it is a direct attack on the academic heart of this institution," a senior faculty member told our correspondent on condition of anonymity. "When a professor is preoccupied with how to pay for basic household expenses or medical bills, their focus inevitably shifts away from classrooms, laboratories, and research guidance."

The association confirmed that the financial paralysis has severely disrupted regular academic activities. Critical research projects, essential for academic progress and institutional reputation, have reportedly stalled due to a lack of resources and demoralized researchers. Furthermore, day-to-day administrative operations have suffered, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and unrest across the campus.

PUTA’s Emergency Appeal: A Rs1.5 Billion Bailout Package Request

Confronted with what it terms an "existential threat," PUTA has called for an immediate emergency bailout package from the provincial government. The teachers’ body has quantified the urgent need, requesting an injection of Rs1.5 billion to clear the backlog of outstanding payments and restore the university’s financial normalcy.

"The situation demands immediate and decisive action to protect the university from total collapse," the PUTA letter states. The association emphasizes that the bailout is not just about settling arrears but is crucial for "restoring normal academic and administrative operations" and preserving the university's integrity.

The appeal underscores the broader implications of the crisis, linking the stability of the University of Peshawar directly to the health of higher education and research in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. As a leading degree-awarding institution, its decline would have a domino effect on the region’s educational landscape.

Leadership and Legacy at Stake: A Call to Safeguard Higher Education

PUTA’s communique to the Chief Minister carries a tone of urgent hope, mixed with grave concern. The association has expressed its expectation that the provincial government, under the leadership of the Chancellor, will act swiftly to resolve the crisis.

"The role of the government is pivotal in safeguarding higher education and research in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," the PUTA letter asserts. It highlights the government’s responsibility in ensuring that flagship institutions like the University of Peshawar continue to function as centers of excellence and innovation, rather than becoming casualties of financial neglect.

The crisis at UoP reflects a wider pattern of financial challenges faced by public sector universities across Pakistan, many of which struggle with similar funding shortfalls and reliance on government grants. However, the direct appeal to the province’s highest executive authority marks a critical juncture in this specific instance.

What Lies Ahead: The Stakes for Students and Provincial Education

The ongoing turmoil raises significant questions about the immediate academic session, examination schedules, and the quality of education being imparted to thousands of students. Prolonged unrest among teaching staff can lead to a breakdown in the academic calendar, ultimately disadvantaging the student body.

Education analysts suggest that the government’s response to this crisis will be a key indicator of its commitment to the education sector. A swift resolution could stem the bleeding and allow the university to recover its footing. Conversely, further delays could accelerate a brain drain of qualified faculty, irreparably damage the university’s research output, and erode public trust in state-supported higher education.

The ball is now in the court of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The University of Peshawar community, along with its students and alumni, await a decisive intervention from Chief Minister to release the crucial funds, alleviate the human suffering, and secure the future of this historic institution.