NewKerala.com

Pakistan’s Neglect of University Scholars Triggers Academic Crisis

Pakistan’s public universities face an academic collapse as TTS faculty salaries have been frozen since 2021 despite 38% inflation and an 81% tax hike. The last TTS recruitment occurred in 2020, leading to faculty attrition and declining morale. A task force led by Ahsan Iqbal recommended salary alignment with a 35% premium, but no agreement has been reached. Stakeholders warn that continued inaction could accelerate brain drain, affecting nearly 4,000 faculty members.

Key Points: Pakistan’s Frozen Salaries Spark Academic Crisis

  • TTS faculty salaries frozen since 2021 amid 38% inflation
  • Tax burden on academics rose 81%
  • No new TTS recruitment since 2020
  • 4,000 faculty members affected; brain drain risk
2 min read

Pakistan's neglect of university scholars triggers academic crisis

Pakistan’s public universities face collapse as frozen TTS salaries since 2021, 38% inflation, and 81% tax hikes push scholars to quit, risking brain drain.

"Despite their contributions in securing international research grants and improving global university rankings, the government has continued to ignore their financial hardships. - The Express Tribune"

Islamabad, May 7

Pakistan's public universities are heading toward a dangerous academic collapse as highly qualified professors and researchers continue to suffer from frozen salaries, soaring inflation, and mounting tax burdens, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, faculty members employed under the Tenure Track System (TTS) programme introduced in 2002 to attract top-tier PhD scholars with competitive salaries have reportedly not received a meaningful salary revision since 2021.

During the same period, Pakistan witnessed repeated inflation shocks, including a historic inflation peak of 38%, while the tax burden on these academics increased by nearly 81%. The report highlighted growing frustration among university researchers who argue that despite their contributions in securing international research grants and improving global university rankings, the government has continued to ignore their financial hardships.

The last recruitment under the TTS programme reportedly took place in 2020, and since then, universities have faced faculty attrition and declining morale. According to figures presented before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the salaries of assistant professors, associate professors, and professors under the TTS structure have remained stagnant at Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 175,500, PKR 263,250, and PKR 394,875, respectively, since 2021.

Had normal annual revisions been applied, these salaries would have risen significantly by 2025. The finance ministry recently held discussions with representatives of the Association of Pakistan Tenure Track Teachers (APTTA), but no final agreement was reached. Officials reportedly proposed a one-time adjustment that could exclude several allowances, reducing the actual relief for faculty members, as cited by The Express Tribune.

A special task force headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had earlier recommended aligning TTS salaries with the Basic Pay Scale framework and adding a 35% premium to maintain competitive compensation. However, these recommendations have yet to be implemented. Academic circles warn that continued government inaction could accelerate the brain drain from Pakistan's higher education sector. Stakeholders stated that nearly 4,000 faculty members remain affected, as reported by The Express Tribune.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
As an academic in India, I feel for our Pakistani colleagues. Research thrives on stability, not uncertainty. Stagnant salaries since 2021 while inflation hit 38% is criminal negligence. 😔 Universities are the backbone of any nation's progress, and this will only push talented people to leave for Gulf countries or the West.
J
James A
From a global perspective, this is a wake-up call for developing nations. Pakistan's TTS program was progressive in 2002, but without regular revisions, it's losing its purpose. The proposed one-time adjustment with allowance cuts sounds like a band-aid on a bullet wound. The Planning Minister's recommendations need implementation, not shelving.
R
Rajesh Q
Yet another proof that our neighbour's priorities are all wrong. When you don't pay teachers and researchers well, you get what you pay for - mediocrity or exodus. India has its own problems in higher education funding, but at least we've had consistent pay revisions in central universities. This is a cautionary tale.
S
Sneha F
Heartbreaking to read this. 😞 My cousin is a professor in Lahore and she tells me how demotivated everyone is. Research culture cannot flourish when people are worried about feeding their families. The government must understand that brain drain doesn't just hurt universities - it hurts the entire nation's development.
M
Michael C
Interesting to see this report from The Express Tribune. The numbers are stark - no salary revision since 2021 while inflation peaked at 38% and tax burden increased 81%. That's effectively a massive pay cut in real terms. The 4,000 affected faculty members represent a significant portion of Pakistan's research capacity.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50